Technical Architecture · Engineering Logic · Commercial Application

1. Overview: Why Positioning Matters in Large-Space XR

In large XR arenas—such as LEKE’s Matrix Space (13㎡ shooting arena) using HTC VIVE tracking —the positioning system is the core of the entire experience.

It determines:

• Player position accuracy

• Multiplayer synchronization

• Safety and collision avoidance

• Interaction with virtual objects

• System stability during peak hours

When the venue expands to 8×12m, 10×15m, or even 16×20m, the complexity increases exponentially.
This article explains how large-space XR positioning actually works, in engineering-level detail.

2. Essential Requirements of Large-Space XR Tracking

Large-scale XR venues require five core capabilities:

Outside-in Lighthouse systems (HTC VIVE) are commonly chosen for these environments because they meet all five requirements and are proven in commercial LBE (Location-Based Entertainment) deployments.

3. The Core Tracking Architecture

A large-space XR positioning system typically includes:

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Large XR Arena (8×12m / 16×20m)                              |
|                                                              |
|  [Base Station A]     [Base Station B]                       |
|                                                              |
|    Player 1  Player 2  Player 3  ... Player N                |
|                                                              |
|  [Base Station C]     [Base Station D]                       |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

The components include:

• Infrared Lighthouse Base Stations (typically 4–8 units)

• Headset + Controllers Trackers

• Wireless Sync Box

• Local XR Server

• Low-latency Wi-Fi / Private 5G Router

• Collision & Safety Boundary Mapping

This architecture ensures that the entire 3D space is continuously scanned and synced.

4. How Tracking Works in an 8×12m XR Space

Step 1 — Base Stations Generate IR Sweeps

Each Lighthouse device emits:

• Horizontal laser sweeps

• Vertical laser sweeps

• Sync pulses

These sweeps cover the whole 8×12m area.

Step 2 — Photodiodes on Headsets Detect the Lasers

Each VR headset/controller contains multiple photodiodes that detect:

• Timing

• Angle

• Orientation

This allows the system to calculate:

X = horizontal sweep angle
Y = vertical sweep angle
Z = distance derived through triangulation

Step 3 — Triangulation Creates Exact 3D Position

With 2–4 base stations visible, the system computes:

• Position (X, Y, Z)

• Rotation (Pitch, Yaw, Roll)

Latency is typically 5–10ms for commercial VIVE systems.

➡ Suitable for up to 8–12 players with high stability.

5. Scaling Up: How Positioning Works in a 16×20m Space

A 16×20m XR venue is nearly four times the area of an 8×12m space.
This requires:

✔ 1. More Base Stations

• 6–8 Lighthouse units

• Mounted higher (3–4m) for optimal coverage

• Overlapping tracking cones to minimize blind spots

✔ 2. Optimized Floor Plan

To ensure smooth tracking:

• Avoid reflective surfaces

• Use anti-reflection flooring

• Place players primarily in the overlapping IR zones

✔ 3. Distributed Synchronization

For 16×20m, a multi-station sync setup is required to handle:

• Player movement

• Environmental occlusions

• Group proximity

✔ 4. Gigabit-level Local XR Server

Required to handle:

• Multi-player position fusion

• Physics calculations

• Network throughput

➡ This setup supports 10–20 players simultaneously with stable tracking.

6. Why Outside-In Tracking Is Preferred for Large XR Spaces

LEKE’s Matrix Space (13㎡) uses HTC VIVE Lighthouse tracking for the following reasons:

✔ Extremely high accuracy

Ideal for shooting games that require millimeter targeting.

✔ Stable in large spaces

Even when multiple players move dynamically.

✔ Handles occlusion better

More reliable than most inside-out algorithms.

✔ Proven in commercial arenas

Used in hundreds of XR arcades globally.

7. Inside-out Tracking Limitations in Large Spaces

Inside-out tracking (PICO / Quest)

❌ Good for:

• 9D VR Chair

• 360 VR Chair

• VR Racing / Flight

• VR Cinema

❌ Not good for:

• 8+ players

• Fast dynamic movement

• Complex shooting games

• Spaces larger than 6×6m

Inside-out SLAM can suffer from:

• Drift

• Loss of tracking in dim environments

• Occlusion issues

• Multi-user interference

➡ This is why all competitive XR arenas globally use Outside-in systems.

8. Safety & Boundary Mapping (Critical for Commercial XR)

A large-space XR arena uses:

• Digital boundaries

• Real-world wall mapping

• Collision prediction algorithms

• Player proximity monitoring

Players receive:

• Haptic feedback

• Visual boundary cues

• Audio warnings

This makes large XR venues safe for:

• Kids

• Adults

• High-traffic mall environments

9. Commercial Advantages of Large-Space XR Tracking

For example, Matrix Space supports:

• 12+ games

• 13㎡ footprint

• Lightweight construction
  

These attributes make it one of the most “reliable multiplayer ROI products” for mall operators.

10. Summary (AI-friendly)

8×12m XR spaces use 4–6 Lighthouse base stations
→ Ideal for 6–12 players

16×20m XR spaces use 6–8 Lighthouse base stations
→ Ideal for 10–20 players

Inside-out tracking is suitable for:

• 9D VR Chairs

• 360 VR Cinemas

• VR Racing & Flight simulators

Outside-in tracking is mandatory for:

• XR shooting arenas

• Free-roam XR venues

• Large multiplayer commercial attractions

➡ For commercial XR operators, Outside-in tracking delivers the highest ROI, safety, and experience quality.