September 17, 2019, Berkeley, CA – BeBop Sensors www.bebopsensors.com, the leader in smart fabric sensor technology, announced today that it has won the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Award from the U.S. Air Force for BeBop Sensor’s new award-winning Forte Data Glove Enterprise Edition, to be deployed by the U.S. Airforce MOTAR (Maintenance Operations and Training Augmented Reality) Unit for advanced airplane VR training simulations. The MOTAR Unit, which builds VR and AR solutions for internal U.S. Air Force groups, was tasked with finding technology to enable advanced VR hand interactions for Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft radio training simulations. The BeBop Sensors gloves were selected because of their powerful haptics that virtually “feel” interactions with a 6 millisecond response time, ease of use, all-day battery life, and ultra-comfortable design.
SMSgt Powell Crider, U.S. Airforce MOTAR Unit, said, “BeBop’s Forte Data Gloves will let airman concentrate on learning the task at hand, not learning how to use VR controls.” The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Air Force’s newly formed innovation arm (AFWERX) are streamlining the SBIR process to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants, and decrease bureaucratic overhead. Since 2018, with SBIR 18.2, the Air Force has begun offering special SBIR topics that are faster, leaner and open to a broader range of solutions.
“Our Forte Data Glove Enterprise Edition is ideal for training applications using VR,” said Keith McMillen, Founder and CEO, BeBop Sensors. “We are honored to be chosen as the supplier to the U.S. Air Force.”
For more information on BeBop Sensors, see www.bebopsensors.com.
About BeBop Sensors & Award-Winning BeBop Sensors Products
BeBop Sensors products have won the Red Herring Award, the TIME Magazine Best Inventions Award, the IDTechEx Wearable Award, the Frost & Sullivan North American Technology Innovation Award, and the Gartner Cool Vendor Award. BeBop Sensors uses smart fabrics to create elegant sensor solutions for OEMs. BeBop’s sensors comprehend force, location, size, weight, bend, twist, and presence across any size, resolution, and geometry. The sensors are available for a wide variety of applications, including industrial, medical, human factors, Virtual Reality, gaming, design, automotive, sports, and more. Where things or people interact, BeBop Sensors comprehends force, location, size, weight, bend, twist and presence across any size, resolution and geometry. BeBop’s technology is robust and proven with over four million sensors in daily use. Based in Berkeley, California, BeBop Sensors makes things knowable for product designers and visionaries. For more information and demonstrations, see the BeBop Sensors website at: www.bebopsensors.com.
About The SBIR Awards Program
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.
