Dimitree Marozau and Serge Khurs are cofounders of Teslasuit, a full-body suit with haptic feedback to give users a full virtual reality experience. The pair saw a need for a way to push the field of virtual reality past purely visual experiences. They are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund a production run of the suits.
Two suit options are available, the Pioneer has 16 different feedback areas and the Prodigy has 52 different haptic spots. The electro-stimulation technology used in the Teslasuits is currently used in physical therapy to train muscle groups and provide pain relief.
The belt of the suit acts as the control unit and connects to virtual reality headsets, computers, smartphones or gaming consoles. The pulses that the suit sends to the body are between 0-80 milliAmps in amplitude, and 1-260 uS wide. The frequency runs between 1 and 500 Hertz. A 3000 milliAmp battery powers the unit.
Impact points each have a mesh of sensors that transmit data to the user’s body. By sending small electric impulse sensors into targeted impact points users can feel impact, forces, heat, cold, wind, or wet sensations.
The Teslasuit team is definitely pushing the envelope of virtual reality here. They’re releasing the suit to create excitement in advancing virtual reality and to have their software development kit used by hobbyists to create new experiences. They hope to create a community that will generate new and novel uses for the suit. Haptic Editor and Haptic Player applications are already released for developers, along with a VR Digital Paintball game that users are seen experiencing in the campaign video.
The suit was demonstrated this month at CES and received publicity in 2015 for transmitting the world’s first virtual hug. The company’s website says they have the means and funds now to build 100 suits regardless of the outcome of the Kickstarter. Pioneer units are expected to ship in December 2016.