HaptX Gloves G1 Review: Specs and Uses of the Microfluidic Haptic Gloves
Updated: 7 days ago
The HaptX Gloves G1 are haptic gloves with 135 microfluidic tactile actuators per hand and force feedback of up to 8 lbf per finger, used in virtual reality and in the remote control of robots. The manufacturer does not publish a price. This review covers their specifications, design, software support and uses.
Quick Verdict
The G1 is the first HaptX glove built for volume production. Each hand has 135 small air-driven actuators that press on the skin, brakes that resist the fingers with up to 8 lbf each, and magnetic tracking of 36 degrees of freedom at 0.3 mm resolution. The gloves need an Airpack, a compressed-air unit of 8.8 kg worn as a backpack or placed on a desk, which is the main practical limit. For robotics the important point is the ROS node: an operator can drive a robot hand and feel what it touches. Price is available only on request.
HaptX Gloves G1 at a Glance
Tactile actuators: 135 per hand
Force feedback: up to 8 lbf per finger
Tracking: 36 degrees of freedom per glove, 0.3 mm RMS
Glove weight: about 1 lb
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Price: on request
HaptX Gloves G1 Technical Specifications
The table below lists the published specifications of the HaptX Gloves G1.
Specification | HaptX Gloves G1 |
Manufacturer | HaptX |
Tactile actuators | 135 microfluidic actuators per hand |
Actuator displacement | 1.5 mm maximum |
Actuator pressure | 9 psi peak |
Force feedback | Up to 8 lbf per finger; about 40 lb per hand |
Force engagement time | 23 ms |
Motion tracking | Magnetic; 36 degrees of freedom per glove |
Tracking resolution | 0.3 mm RMS |
Glove weight | About 1 lb each |
Sizes | S, M, L, XL |
Airpack size | 52.5 × 26.5 × 12.3 cm |
Airpack weight | 8.8 kg |
Airpack battery life | 3 hours typical |
Airpack noise | 55 dB |
Wireless range | 100 ft in mobile configuration |
Warranty | One year, limited |
Design and Build Quality
The gloves work with compressed air. The Airpack supplies up to 36 psi to the actuators in the gloves, and it can be worn on the back for free movement or stood on a desk. Each glove weighs about a pound. Tracking is magnetic, so the fingers are followed even when they are hidden from cameras. The actuators move the skin by up to 1.5 mm, which reproduces the shape and texture of an object, while the force feedback stops the fingers closing through a virtual or remote object.
Software and Integration
Game Engines
An SDK supports Unity and Unreal Engine, and a C++ interface serves other real-time engines.
Robotics
A ROS node supports ROS 1 and ROS 2, which connects the gloves to robot hands and arms for teleoperation.
Licensing
The SDK is free for G1 customers, with no further licence fees.
HaptX Gloves G1 Uses
The gloves are used in training, robotics, design and manufacturing.
Robot Teleoperation
An operator controls a robot hand with natural hand movements and feels contact through the glove, which suits work in hazardous or remote places.
Robot Learning
The gloves record human hand movements and forces, which can be used as training data for robots.
Training and Design
Virtual training and the review of digital designs gain a sense of touch.
HaptX Gloves G1 Price and Value
HaptX does not publish a price for the Gloves G1; it is available on request from the manufacturer.
For the company behind the product, read the HaptX Company Profile: History, Funding, Products and Leadership.
Pros and Cons
Pros
135 tactile actuators per hand
Force feedback on every finger
Accurate magnetic tracking
ROS 1 and ROS 2 support
Free SDK
Cons
Needs an 8.8 kg Airpack
3 hours of battery in mobile use
No published price
One-year warranty
Who Should Buy the HaptX Gloves G1?
The G1 fits robotics laboratories, companies building teleoperated robots and training organizations that need a realistic sense of touch.
HaptX Gloves G1 FAQ
How much do the HaptX Gloves G1 cost?
HaptX does not publish a price; it is available on request.
How many actuators do the HaptX Gloves G1 have?
135 microfluidic tactile actuators per hand.
How strong is the force feedback?
Up to 8 lbf per finger, about 40 lb per hand.
How accurate is the hand tracking?
36 degrees of freedom per glove at 0.3 mm RMS resolution.
What is the Airpack?
The compressed-air unit that drives the gloves; it weighs 8.8 kg and runs for about 3 hours on battery.
Do the HaptX Gloves G1 work with ROS?
Yes. A ROS node supports ROS 1 and ROS 2.
Which sizes are available?
S, M, L and XL.
What are the HaptX Gloves G1 used for?
Robot teleoperation, robot learning, training and design review.
Specifications are based on manufacturer information and may change.
