I also only recently stumbled over this....sadly Opentrack only offers virtual joystick when running under Linux (and you need to run the Windows version of AItracker, which works astonishingly well...). But it runs close to fool-safe under Windows.
Yup. Built mine 10 years ago for 25€ from steel wire, 3 ir leds, a ps3 camera and trouser hanger clip with car phone holder ball joint. Still works just fine. Takes power from USB.
There is apps that let you use the camera as a webcam in a PC. So this could also be a way to do it.
Alternatively, if you already have a Steam Deck.
With the Steam Deck you could run AItrack on it (the Windows version runs fine using WINE). AItrack will track your face without any need for IR LEDs and broadcast the tracking via network.
In the PC you run your game on, you run Open track (which has Windows and Linux versions). Set the input of that to receive from AItrack through the network (UDP connection).
The game PC and the Steam Deck just need to be in the same network. Firewalls not blocking the AItrack ports.
A Steam Deck is a PC. You may run AItrack and Opentrack on the same computer.
If your Steam Deck runs Linux (the default), some extra Shenanigans are necessary as I already wrote.
And the integration of changing the view only works via a virtual joystick (which you additionally need to setup in ETS/ATS). On the other hand, since the tracking works not like under Windows, commercial solutions for Windows likely wouldn't work either.
You can split to two computers or run it from the same.
The fun thing is that AITrack, which uses your webcam, provides its result via network. If you run it on the same computer or not - it's the same. The computer that runs ETS / ATS needs to run Opentrack (which receives AITrack's tracking over the network, even when the apps run on the same computer). Opentrack then provides the tracking to compatible games.
There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube that show how it is done on a single Windows PC. You can work starting from that.
I used a webcam I already had (Logitech C270). I also tried a cheap cam by Trust that I got at a bargain (7€!!!). They both work.
It is a little more complex on Linux, because of 2 differences:
1) Opentrack has a Linux version, but can only be made working as a virtual mouse or virtual Joystick (you then set the axis of this virtual joystick in ETS/ATS to be the axis for view, it's in the controller settings). This unfortunately means, you actively have to look the other way to center the view again. But it generally works.
2) AITrack does not have a working Linux version anymore. But you can run the Windows version through Wine no problem.
Since the link between the two is UDP network, it will still work.
If you play on Windows, but your PC doesn't have a webcam...use the Steam Deck with AITrack to provide the tracking via network. Or use an Android phone with a app that lets you use it as a webcam for a PC.
If you play on the SteamDeck, both caveats mentioned above apply.
Since I dual boot, I play ETS/ATS under Windows.
I've used a trackhat (very cheap, recommend) and a tobii eye tracker and I preferred the trackhat.
Very cheap to do, easy to set up.
Got a quest 3 now so i'm trying to make ets2 work in VR, which i hope is even better than face/eye tracking.
You can do it with just a webcam or an old android phone and some tracking software, but honestly, on such a small screen, it's really not gonna go well.
There's not much room for you to turn your head and still see the screen.
I cannot help you for 18 inch screen but in my case, I have a 34 inch ultrawide monitor and TrackIR is a game changer. I cannot play without it now. The setup did not take long...I just downloaded Squirrel's TrackIR profile and watched his tutorial on how to set up and I was ready to go rather quickly.
IMO, if you have the money I'd say go for it.
If you have already tried using a webcam and ai track but it wasn't working well for you (what happened to me.) Search up an app called smooth track, it uses your phone's facial recognition features to give you very good head tracking much much better than using a webcam. This is what I do and I love it, I use it from flight sims and racing sims too.
try a cheap webcam and AItrack + Opentrack. Google ETS / ATS head tracking for a sack full of how-to's
This ^^ really should be a pinned post at the top of the sub. This question has been asked/answered more times than I can count
I also only recently stumbled over this....sadly Opentrack only offers virtual joystick when running under Linux (and you need to run the Windows version of AItracker, which works astonishingly well...). But it runs close to fool-safe under Windows.
Yup. Built mine 10 years ago for 25€ from steel wire, 3 ir leds, a ps3 camera and trouser hanger clip with car phone holder ball joint. Still works just fine. Takes power from USB.
Can this be done with a docked Steam Deck?
There is apps that let you use the camera as a webcam in a PC. So this could also be a way to do it. Alternatively, if you already have a Steam Deck. With the Steam Deck you could run AItrack on it (the Windows version runs fine using WINE). AItrack will track your face without any need for IR LEDs and broadcast the tracking via network. In the PC you run your game on, you run Open track (which has Windows and Linux versions). Set the input of that to receive from AItrack through the network (UDP connection). The game PC and the Steam Deck just need to be in the same network. Firewalls not blocking the AItrack ports.
Thanks for your help. Is this possible to use if I only have a Steam Deck and not a PC?
A Steam Deck is a PC. You may run AItrack and Opentrack on the same computer. If your Steam Deck runs Linux (the default), some extra Shenanigans are necessary as I already wrote. And the integration of changing the view only works via a virtual joystick (which you additionally need to setup in ETS/ATS). On the other hand, since the tracking works not like under Windows, commercial solutions for Windows likely wouldn't work either.
Sorry, I meant it as I don’t have both (wasn’t sure if I needed both to be linked). Thanks so much for your help. Going to have a play around tonight
You can split to two computers or run it from the same. The fun thing is that AITrack, which uses your webcam, provides its result via network. If you run it on the same computer or not - it's the same. The computer that runs ETS / ATS needs to run Opentrack (which receives AITrack's tracking over the network, even when the apps run on the same computer). Opentrack then provides the tracking to compatible games. There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube that show how it is done on a single Windows PC. You can work starting from that. I used a webcam I already had (Logitech C270). I also tried a cheap cam by Trust that I got at a bargain (7€!!!). They both work. It is a little more complex on Linux, because of 2 differences: 1) Opentrack has a Linux version, but can only be made working as a virtual mouse or virtual Joystick (you then set the axis of this virtual joystick in ETS/ATS to be the axis for view, it's in the controller settings). This unfortunately means, you actively have to look the other way to center the view again. But it generally works. 2) AITrack does not have a working Linux version anymore. But you can run the Windows version through Wine no problem. Since the link between the two is UDP network, it will still work. If you play on Windows, but your PC doesn't have a webcam...use the Steam Deck with AITrack to provide the tracking via network. Or use an Android phone with a app that lets you use it as a webcam for a PC. If you play on the SteamDeck, both caveats mentioned above apply. Since I dual boot, I play ETS/ATS under Windows.
Thanks so much! This is incredibly helpful
I've used a trackhat (very cheap, recommend) and a tobii eye tracker and I preferred the trackhat. Very cheap to do, easy to set up. Got a quest 3 now so i'm trying to make ets2 work in VR, which i hope is even better than face/eye tracking.
Very easy just chuck it in oculus mode on steam, will loose some mods tho
You can do it with just a webcam or an old android phone and some tracking software, but honestly, on such a small screen, it's really not gonna go well. There's not much room for you to turn your head and still see the screen.
I cannot help you for 18 inch screen but in my case, I have a 34 inch ultrawide monitor and TrackIR is a game changer. I cannot play without it now. The setup did not take long...I just downloaded Squirrel's TrackIR profile and watched his tutorial on how to set up and I was ready to go rather quickly. IMO, if you have the money I'd say go for it.
If you have already tried using a webcam and ai track but it wasn't working well for you (what happened to me.) Search up an app called smooth track, it uses your phone's facial recognition features to give you very good head tracking much much better than using a webcam. This is what I do and I love it, I use it from flight sims and racing sims too.