Relativty Is an Open Source VR Headset You Can Build for $200

Virtual reality technology has been in the works for many years, and now with the advent of better and better hardware at affordable prices, it seems to be finally coming into its own. While you can buy a headset for VR experiences, you could instead create your own using the open source Relativty design.

This build process was started five years ago, when Max Coutte and Gabriel Combe — then both 15 years old — couldn’t afford to purchase a VR headset. After years of development, the device has matured significantly, and is now able to support any SteamVR game at a DIY price of $200.

It features a custom PCB with a Microchip SAM3X8E Arm Cortex-M3 processor, along with an MPU-6050 IMU and a 2K 120 FPS split display. The system can also be set up on an Arduino Due or other similar hardware, and as an open source design, the display, or anything else you can think of, can be upgraded or modified as needed.

In addition to head tracking via the onboard IMU, the system can use room-scaling through your computer’s webcam to follow body movements. This functionality is still very much in the experimental stages, but could be a great way to enhance the experience.

Build info can be found on Hackster, while code, electronics, and mechanical files are on GitHub. You can also check out Relativty's homepage.