SenseGlove

SenseGlove is a Dutch firm specializing in developing and producing wearable force and haptic feedback gloves for use in VR. The company’s latest product is the Nova 2 haptic force-feedback gloves, (announced in May 2023, and retailing at USD ~6,500). The Nova 2 features “Active Contact Feedback” and force feedback, providing a realistic sensation when interacting with objects. The gloves are able to simulate various sensations, including car steering wheels, laboratory flasks and handshakes. The company announced worldwide shipping of the product in April 2024.

The company also developed the Nova glove, retailing at USD 3,999. The glove, equipped with a 23 degrees of freedom (DoF) tracking system, allows the user to interact in VR and feel the size, stiffness, and resistance of virtual objects, providing a hands-on experience to build muscle memory. The glove uses magnetic friction brakes to simulate the feeling of size and stiffness, providing up to 20N of force to each finger. Each glove weighs 320 grams and has advanced voice coil actuator technology that enables vibrotactile feedback, including realistic button clicks and impact simulations.

The SenseGlove Nova employs four sensors and computer vision hand tracking algorithms to track the flexion and extension of fingers as well as abduction and adduction of the thumb by measuring the extension of cables on the glove. The VR gloves can be used in various training use cases, such as first responder training, installations, maintenance, and assembly. As of April 2023, the Nova was compatible with headsets from Meta, HTC, Pico Interactive, and Varjo. Additionally, the company planned to make its Nova compatible with AR applications.

Key customers and partnerships

As of January 2024, the company had 500+ customers for its VR gloves, with key customers including P&G, Honda, EESA, Volkswagen, Fraunhofer, and University of Cambridge.

In October 2022, SenseGlove partnered with haptics software developer Interhaptics to deliver a drag-and-drop approach for designing haptics and interaction scenarios, with the potential to save up to 90% of development time.

Funding and financials

In April 2023, SenseGlove raised EUR 3.25 million (~USD 3.56 million) in a Series A funding round led by Eindhoven-based investment fund Lumaux. Funds were earmarked for the development of its hand haptics technology to improve user immersion within VR and to open a North American office.