TactileGlove - Hand Pressure and Force Measurement
The PPS TactileGloves are tactile pressure sensor gloves with embedded sensing elements throughout the palm and fingers, allowing for natural and accurate testing of pressures applied to and exerted by the hand. Nearly any hand operation can be measured accurately through the 65 individual highly sensitive sensing elements within each glove.
Our TactileGloves are wireless and battery powered. This is the only glove sensor on the market that both allows for full range of motion and creates an organic testing environment. High-resolution pressure sensing and mapping enables you to research hand movements when performing various tasks, and analyze comfort, and ergonomics through visual feedback of hand interactions.
Sensor Glove Features:
Ensure a natural test environment with the only glove hand sensor on the market
User friendly, comfortable to wear and no adhesives or wires to get in your way
High-resolution, sensitive sensors detect even the lowest pressures (0.1oz/3g)
Meant to handle the real world. It's wireless and battery powered.
Delivered in pairs (Left + Right). Available glove size: small, medium, and large. See: sizing chart
Product Description
The TactileGlove provides a sharp improvement in sensor measurement involving human hand and finger movements. Both simple and complex hand operations can be measured accurately and dynamically through multiple high-resolution small sensor arrays. Sixty-five sensor elements across the hand, fingers, and palm, embedded within a wireless glove allows for reliable and repeatable pressure distribution measurement.
High-resolution pressure sensing and hand mapping has versatile applications. It enables you to research and develop human movements, comfort, and ergonomics through visual feedback of hand interactions. The accompanying Chameleon Software captures and records live data to provide both numeric and image representation of pressures on the hand.
Applications
Understand and optimize worker exertion while performing hand actions. Measure force and exertion required to cutting metal with shears, strip wire, perform fine assembly tasks, and more. Understand points of high exertion within your process, and optimize your labor force to reduce potential injury.
Manufacturing Safety & Workers’ Comp Assessment:
Understanding work activities to prevent injury
Measure & visualize human grip force required to use power tools
Analyze grip force required for fine motor activities such as using dental tools
Determine if a tool modification reduces effort required
Quantify hand strength for return-to-work assessments
Product Ergonomic Design:
Quantify what forces people use naturally
Determine upper and lower limits of forces generated by the hand
Quantify effort to use tools for human factors & ergonomic designs
Correlate “feel” of a product in response to controlled design changes
Understand hand interactions with competitive products
Grip Force In Shear Usage
Quantify Grip Force
EXAMPLES
WHITE PAPER - Interpreting TactileGlove Data for Practical Use Cases - Published 2024
WHITE PAPER - Quantifying Hand Ergonomics With The Tactile Glove - Published 2021
RESEARCH ARTICLE - Investigating Gripping Force During Lifting Tasks Using a Pressure Sensing Glove System - February 2023 - Science Direct Applied Ergonomics - Download
RESEARCH ARTICLE - Identification of Adaptive Driving Style Preference through Implicit Inputs in SAE L2 Vehicles - November 2022 - Honda Research Institute USA, Inc - Download
RESEARCH ARTICLE (in Japanese) - Measurement and Assessment of Touch Skills during Dementia Care Movements Using Tactile Gloves - 2020 - Kyushu University
Tactile Glove System Components
TactileGlove Pair
BLE Module and Housing
BLE USB Dongle
USB Charging Cable
Inside the tactile gloves
Sixty-five (65) sensing elements embedded within the glove enable accurate pressure mapping across the most important areas of the hand.
GLOVE Sensor Specifications
| Sensing Elements | 65 |
|---|---|
| Full Scale Range | 80 psi (55 N/cm2) |
| Maximum Force | Thumb & Finger tips - 70 N Pinky tips - 28 N |
| Thickness | ~ 2.6 mm |
| Signal-to-Noise (SNR) | > 500:1 |
| Gain Non-Repeatability | <3% |
| Linearity | > 98% |
| Minimum Sensitivity | 0.04 N |
Electronic Specifications
| Scan Rate | 25 - 40 Hz |
|---|---|
| Interconnection | Wireless BlueTooth Low Energy (BLE) - minimum 5 m range |
| Battery Life | > 2 hours |
| Operating Temperature | 0 - 50° C |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the minimum force sensitivity and mass that the TactileGlove can detect?
The minimum force that each individual force sensing glove fingertip element (38 mm²) can detect is 0.04 N.
2. Is the TactileGlove waterproof?
No, the TactileGlove is not waterproof. However, a custom skin can be added at extra cost.
3. Does the TactileGlove stretch to accommodate variations in hand size and shape?
The four glove sizes are carefully designed to cover natural hand sizes across a broad spectrum. Please choose the correct size based on your hand dimensions.
4. Does the TactileGlove measure pressure or force?
The TactileGlove is calibrated in units of pressure (i.e., psi or N/cm²). Force values are calculated using the known area of each sensor element.
5. Can the TactileGlove detect fast impact loads?
We do not recommend using the TactileGlove for impact applications.
6. How often does the TactileGlove require calibration?
The capacitive based sensing modality of PPS sensors results in an extremely stable sensor with superior reliability and repeatability. With proper use and care, the TactileGlove should retain its calibration for years.