bHaptics TactGlove DK3

bHaptics TactGlove DK3 – Wireless Haptic Gloves for XR

bHaptics TactGlove DK3 is a pair of wireless haptic gloves that enhance VR, AR, and MR experiences with programmable vibrations felt at the fingertips, palms, and wrists. The gloves do not measure finger position or flexion – they utilize the hand tracking system in the headset, generating tactile feedback themselves.

The DK3 offers eight haptic points per hand: five at the fingertips, two at the palm, and one at the wrist. The device is primarily intended for XR training, simulations, human-computer interaction research, and specialized educational and industrial applications.

Key Features
8 haptic points per hand, for a total of 16 points.
5 actuators at the fingertips, 2 at the palm, and 1 at the wrist.
7 LRA actuators and 1 VCM actuator per hand. Individual intensity control for each point.
Wireless Bluetooth Low Energy connection.
Transmission latency under 20 ms.
Up to 4 hours of operation.
Removable and washable inner sleeve.
Non-slip fingertips compatible with touchscreens.
Magnetic wrist strap.
Compatible with camera-based hand tracking systems.
Integration with Unity, Unreal Engine, Python, JavaScript, and Android.

How TactGlove DK3 Works

The gloves do not independently recognize finger position. Hand movement is recorded by the goggles' cameras or another hand tracking system. The XR app detects an event, such as a touch, button press, collision with an object, or impact, and then transmits the appropriate haptic pattern to the gloves.

For example:
Touching a virtual button may trigger a short impulse on the index finger;
Moving the hand across a surface may activate additional actuators;
Grasping a heavier virtual object may cause stronger hand and wrist vibrations;
An error during the training procedure may be signaled by a specific vibration pattern.

The manufacturer states that during tests with the MetaQuest 3, the gloves maintained approximately 90% of the tracking accuracy achieved with an unprotected hand. However, this is a manufacturer's declaration regarding a specific configuration and does not guarantee this result in every environment.

Who is this product for?

The TactGlove DK3 is primarily intended for:
VR, AR, and MR application developers;
teams creating simulations and immersive training;
technical universities and research laboratories;
XR system integrators;
training companies;
R&D centers;
industrial and defense solution manufacturers;
advanced VR users using compatible applications.

This is not the best choice for someone looking for a universal add-on that works automatically with all VR games. Use of the gloves depends on whether the application supports TactGlove natively or has been properly integrated with the bHaptics SDK.

Software Required for Operation

bHaptics Player
An application used to detect, pair, configure, and manage bHaptics devices. In the PC environment, it is also used by applications using the SDK. In versions designed for standalone headsets, it can be used to connect bHaptics devices to compatible applications.

bHaptics Designer
A tool for designing haptic patterns without the need to manually program each impulse. It allows you to define:
activated points;
effect duration;
intensity;
intensity change pattern;
actuator activation order.

The TactGlove offers a waveform creation mode and more detailed haptic effects.

bHaptics Developer Portal
A web-based environment for creating haptic applications, defining events, and generating application IDs and API keys. It is required for integrations using the Python SDK, among other things.

SDK and Plugins
The manufacturer provides:
SDK2 for Unity;
SDK2 for Unreal Engine;
Python SDK;
JavaScript SDK; Android SDK.

The official documentation indicates support for Unreal Engine versions 4.26 to 5.6. The Physics Glove module for Unity requires Unity 2022 or later and the bHaptics plugin 2.3.0 or later. The Python SDK requires Python 3.8–3.12 and Windows 10/11 x64 or a Mac with an Apple Silicon processor.

Specifications

Device type: Wireless haptic gloves for VR, AR, and MR
Number of gloves included: 2 – left and right
Number of haptic points: 8 on each hand, 16 in total
Haptic point layout: 5 on the fingertips, 2 on the palm, 1 on the wrist
Actuator type per hand: 7 × LRA and 1 × VCM
Haptic control: Individual intensity control of individual haptics
Connectivity: Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0
Declared transmission latency: less than 20 ms
Battery: Lithium-ion, 630 mAh
Declared operating time: up to approximately 4 hours
Charging time: approximately 2 hours
Charging parameters: 5 V, maximum 0.5 A
Hand tracking system: No proprietary finger position or flexion sensors
Tracking method: Use of the headset's camera hand tracking or an external tracking system Hand
Supported sizes: S, M, L, XL
Fingertips: Textured and anti-slip
Touchscreen support: Yes
Inner sleeve: Removable, antibacterial, and washable
Closure: Magnetic wrist strap
Haptic technology: Programmable vibrations on fingers, palm, and wrist
Force feedback: No
Physical resistance simulation: No
Weight simulation: No
Temperature simulation: No
Unity integration: Yes
Unreal Engine integration: Yes
Python integration: Yes
JavaScript integration: Yes
Android integration: Yes
Configuration software: bHaptics Player
Haptic effects design tool: bHaptics Designer
Developer environment: bHaptics Developer Portal
Available development tools: bHaptics SDK and plugins
Intended use: XR applications, training Immersive, simulation, research, education, and prototyping
Full functionality: The app must support the TactGlove DK3 or be integrated with the bHaptics SDK
Game compatibility: App-specific, not universally supported for all VR games
Recommended interaction method: Hand tracking without the use of traditional VR controllers
User hygiene: Washable inner sleeve; additional protective gloves or replaceable inserts are recommended for multiple users
Main limitation: The device only provides vibration stimuli and does not block finger movement