Surplex

Surplex uses a combination of sensing technology and artificial intelligence to create a pair of full-body tracking shoes, providing users with a seamless experience that allows them to interact in their virtual environment with little to no struggle. 

How it works:

Here are two parts to the magic of Surplex: the sole and the IMU. 

Each sole of Surplex is layered with 240 pressure sensors that offered a broader view of how you are standing and your body movement. They are 1mm in thickness, but contribute the most to the motion capture. They read the pressure on your foot to create a skeletal model of the user’s character. Each time you move your torso or whole body, you shift the centre of gravity, and in turn the pressure on your feet change. That’s why even though these sensors won’t directly detect anything else, Surplex knows how your entire body moves. 

The 9-Axis IMU we used (BNO085), on the other hand, offeres a more delicate tracking of your legs movements and angles. Surplex will utilize this information to infer users’ legs movement, so your movement can be captured even without pressure information (such as when you jump in the air or raise your leg). Combining this with the pressure sensors, and you will get seamless movement in the virtual space. 

Future of Surplex:

Surplex has sold over 300 units of their product and formed a partnership with three VR companies with hopes to enhance the user experience utilizing Surplex.

As VR expands beyond entertainment, Surplex envisions various industries benefiting from seamless and accurate full-body motion capturing, such as sports and medical analysis. Focusing on novel sensing technologies and their combination with AI, Surplex envisions a future where smart sensing devices like their shoes are ubiquitous and empower people in various industries.