Introducing SenseGlove Nova, A Rapidly Donned Haptic Force-Feedback Glove For Professional VR/AR Training
DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS – January 11, 2021 — At CES 2021 today, SenseGlove, a leading developer of force and haptic feedback gloves, announced the launch of SenseGlove Nova, a new version of haptic force-feedback gloves designed specifically for professional VR training purposes. SenseGlove Nova features an updated flexible form-factor in combination with unparalleled haptic technologies and smooth hand tracking that enables users to feel shapes, textures, stiffness, impacts and resistance in virtual reality easier than ever before. SenseGlove Nova’s level of usability and touch-enabling technology will help upscale all kinds of VR training programs, such as training to handle hazardous materials, carrying out complex tasks with multiple tools and objects, learning to design and test physical prototypes. View a short video of SenseGlove Nova in action here.
“Unlike research applications, VR training projects are all about quick implementation. We created SenseGlove Nova — a new glove using stretchable, easy-to-put-on material — specifically for VR training, based on direct customer feedback. The ability to experience digital worlds through intuitive real-world behaviors coupled with a low $5,000 USD price make the SenseGlove Nova the most accessible device for the future of work and a new sense in VR training,” said Gijs den Butter, CEO of SenseGlove.
Research has shown the presence of realistic haptic interactions and feedback is an integral part of creating compelling and useful immersive virtual environments, where both kinesthetic and cutaneous feedback convey unique information critical to object handling and manipulation.
Famous for its exoskeleton cyberpunk design, the current version of SenseGlove (DK1) is used for VR research and has been on the market since 2018. It has since been purchased and applied by more than 100 corporations and institutions, including Volkswagen, Airbus, Scania, Honda, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, the Cambridge University and Fraunhofer. Developed in collaboration with SenseGlove research customers, SenseGlove Nova possesses the features required for VR training: motion-tracking, force feedback, vibrotactile feedback and an updated form-factor that enables the user to easily and quickly put on and take off the gloves.
“The next big step towards truly immersive VR training is to have haptic interactions. Therefore, Volkswagen collaborates with SenseGlove to make this vision of scalable haptic VR training a reality,” stated Malte Hedemann, Referent Digital Realities (VR /AR) at the Volkswagen Group.
How SenseGlove Works.
SenseGlove’s patented force feedback technology enables lifelike interactions, which is crucial for complex task training. The SenseGlove exoskeleton is inspired by the human tendon muscle system. By applying resistance through its magnetic friction brakes, SenseGlove emulates the feeling of object density and size. The SenseGlove Nova incorporates four brakes dedicated to each finger from thumb to ring finger. Each brake delivers up to 20N of force, which is equivalent to the weight of a 2 kg brick on each finger and makes for unparalleled force feedback. The different amounts of force, transferred to the fingertips through mechanical wires, allows SenseGlove to enhance training simulations with a wide variety of virtual objects, from robust engines to fragile light bulbs.
For the vibrotactile feedback of SenseGlove Nova, SenseGlove has embedded an advanced voice coil actuator technology that allows the Nova to render the feeling of realistic button clicks and impact simulations, which are crucial for virtual reality training with tools and dashboards. Both the thumb and the index finger have their own vibrotactile actuator, while the voice coil actuator is located in the hub of the glove. The unique force-and vibrotactile feedback is incorporated into a user-friendly flexible glove, whose haptic features along with advanced motion tracking, compatibility with the latest standalone headsets and scalable pricing make SenseGlove Nova the new standard in professional VR interactions.
SenseGlove is showing the working prototype of SenseGlove Nova at CES 2021 and plans to ship the first pairs of gloves in March 2021. SenseGlove Nova is currently available for pre-order at an introductory price of $5,000 for a set of two gloves on the SenseGlove website. Bulk orders of 10 or more Nova gloves are available at a discounted rate of $3,500 per set of gloves.
About SenseGlove
SenseGlove develops force and haptic feedback gloves that enable professionals to feel and interact with virtual objects for VR training and research purposes. Every interaction using the SenseGlove makes virtual reality feel like a physical, real-world environment. Today, SenseGlove DK1 is used to increase the effectiveness of VR/AR research for clients like Volkswagen, Airbus, Scania, Honda, Cambridge University, TNO, Fraunhofer, Siemens, and many more.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the YES!Delft Tech Incubator in the Netherlands, SenseGlove is a privately held company backed by Forward.one and Value Creation Capital. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Learn more at https://www.senseglove.com.
