Leap Motion develops hand-recognition sensor for mobile VR headsets

Leap Motion is working on a mobile version of its hand recognition technology. The combination of sensor and software is intended for mobile VR headsets, which then do not require a controller for operation.

According to Leap Motion, the sensor for the mobile platform has been completely rebuilt. According to the company, the hardware had to perform better and consume less and the software for hand recognition would also be optimized.

Compared to the hand recognition sensor for the PC, Leap Motion has expanded the field of view. With the PC the field of view is 140×120 degrees, but for the VR headsets the sensor registers movements within a field of 180×180 degrees. According to Leap Motion, this is the maximum that can be achieved with a single sensor.

Leap Motion does not provide further details about the technology yet. The company has built a prototype based on the Samsung Gear VR. In the coming months, the company will demonstrate this in conjunction with the Blocks demo, where the user can create blocks of different sizes with their hands and push or pick them up.

Leap Motion is known for its gesture control systems. The company released a separate accessory and the technology has been incorporated into some laptops and all-in-one systems. Since the end of 2014, the company has been working on gesture control systems with VR glasses. Razer’s OSVR glasses, among others, use the Leap Motion sensor. However, it is expected that there will be more and more mobile VR glasses that do not need to be connected to a PC.