[st5000]

Assuming current Oculus Rift has a gyroscope for rotation detection & accelerometer for orientation and movement. So, what are the IR LEDs that line the outside of the current Oculus Rift for?

-thanks

[Talkivr]

A series of infrared LEDs embedded in the headset are then monitored by this wireless sensor in what Oculus calls the Constellation Tracking System – Nintendo's Wii Nunchuks work in much the same way. On DK2 you couldn't look behind you when you were in a virtual world because the LEDs fell out of the camera's field of view, but that's been fixed on the consumer release, and by adding LEDS into the rear of the headset as well as the front, Oculus Rift now offers users full 360 degree perspective.

TD;lr Basically accurate head tracking

source:https://www.wareable.com/oculus-rift...lus-rift-works

[krisguy]

To add to @talkivr 's great answer, HTC does the opposite. Their room tracking system uses their cubes to shoot the IR into the play area, and the HMD, controllers, and the new (drool) tracking pucks all receive the signal and talk via cord/Wireless or BT.

Each one has its own way of doing the job.

[Chemy JMHT]

Exactly that, both system are to tell how far or close you are from the sensors in some way, and by doing that telling where are you spatially .