The Performance of Inertial Measurement Unit Sensors on Various Hardware Platforms for Binaural Head-Tracking...

Area of Science:

• Audio Engineering
• Sensor Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Binaural synthesis in spatial audio relies on precise head tracking.
• Head tracking requires accurate, high-frequency orientation data from inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors.
• IMUs integrate accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, necessitating robust performance assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss challenges in assessing IMU performance for head tracking.
• To present an innovative measurement method for comparing IMU performance across different hardware platforms.
• To evaluate the suitability of various platforms for head orientation data acquisition in binaural synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Investigated three hardware platforms: Arduino-based systems with IMUs, smartphones with integrated IMUs, and a commercial virtual reality unit.
• Developed and applied an innovative measurement methodology for performance comparison.
• Collected and analyzed head orientation data from sensors on all platforms.

Main Results:

• All three investigated platforms demonstrated adequacy for acquiring head orientation data.
• The proposed measurement method effectively compared IMU performance across diverse hardware.
• Observed limitations in data acquisition and transfer are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Commonly available hardware, including smartphones and VR units, can provide sufficient data for head tracking in binaural synthesis.
• The presented measurement method offers a viable approach for IMU performance evaluation.
• Further investigation into data acquisition and transfer limitations is warranted.