People train robots.
We provide the technology.
prophysics AG is your partner in the DACH region for professional motion capture systems in humanoid robotics. We offer full-body kinematics and precise finger tracking, from teleoperation to AI training.
Why Motion Capture?
Humanoid robots require high-quality kinematic data. This data covers the entire body, including the hands, and must be synchronised in real time. It forms the basis for teleoperation, imitation learning and whole-body control.
Imitation Learning & LfD
The robot’s AI learns from examples of human movement. Precise whole-body and finger data form the basis for the ‘learning from demonstration’ approach and generalisable foundation models.
Real-time teleoperation
With a latency of ~20 ms, a person wearing a MoCap suit controls a robot directly. Seamless integration is achieved via UDP, DDS and the SDK in ROS/ROS 2. Each session simultaneously generates valuable training data.
Whole-Body Control
Whole-Body Motion Retargeting transfers human movement patterns directly to the joint and motion models of humanoid robots – from low-level control right up to the high-level AI stack.
Dexterity – Hands
Manipulation and grasping tasks are the biggest challenge in robotics. EMF-based finger tracking with 25 degrees of freedom (DOF) can achieve what camera systems cannot when occlusion occurs.
AI validation
High-quality, scalable training data is available for learning from demonstration and imitation learning, as well as for the validation of AI-based motion and decision-making models.
Embodied AI & HRI
Natural and precise interaction data are essential for research into human-robot interaction and embodied AI. The whole body and hands are captured together in a synchronised session.
Human Motion Data Collection: the basis for Physical AI
More than just motion capture: With our data collection solutions, you can capture complete human demonstrations – from full-body motion capture and finger tracking to optional EMG, force plates, eye tracking and video synchronisation. All modalities are delivered synchronised from a single source, forming a high-quality dataset for research and industry.
Full-Body MoCap
Finger-Tracking
EMG
Force plates
Eye-Tracking
Video synchronisation
From human to robot: the complete workflow
01
Human demonstration
Whole-body and finger movements, one operator.
02
Synchronisation
A shared time base, live via UDP/DDS/SDK.
03
Retargeting
Conversion to robot kinematics, joint commands.
04
Execution & Recording
Live performance & simultaneous data recording, haptic feedback.
Specific use cases for workflows involving various robot platforms – from compact research robots to industrial humanoids.
Xsens Link – Real-time full-body tracking
17 One-Click IMU sensors track whole-body movement at a 240 Hz update rate – with a latency of around 20 milliseconds, they are capable of streaming data for direct robot control. Data is transmitted via Wi-Fi 6E with a range of up to 150 metres.
- 17 IMU-Sensoren · 240 Hz · ~20 ms latency
- Wi-Fi 6E · 150 m Range
- Battery life: 3–4 hours (internal), 7–8 hours (external), hot-swappable
- eSuit, machine washable, sizes S–XXL
- Integration via UDP, DDS, SDK in ROS/ROS 2, NVIDIA Isaac, MuJoCo
MANUS Metagloves – Precise finger tracking with haptic feedback
EMF-based tracking with 25 degrees of freedom captures even the subtlest finger movements – with no drift whatsoever and without the occlusion issues that camera-based systems experience when hands are obscured. The Pro-Haptic version also provides haptic feedback.
- 25 degrees of freedom · EMF tracking · Millimetre precision
- No drift, no occlusion, persistent calibration profiles
- Haptic feedback for intuitive teleoperation contr
- Replaceable battery, detachable top module for multi-user operation
- Integration via ROS 2, C++ SDK, MANUS Core
Vicon – Optical tracking with reference-grade precision
Camera-based, marker-based system – the gold standard when it comes to maximum positional accuracy. A key advantage is the precise determination of position in space, which is a clear benefit particularly during interactions, such as when hands grasp objects or when people and robots move within the same room. As well as being used as a ground-truth reference for validating AI-based motion models, Vicon can also be specifically deployed for the spatial positioning of MANUS Metagloves – which is of particular interest to customers who already have an existing Vicon system and wish to expand it to include precise finger tracking.
- Optical marker tracking, maximum positional accuracy
- Established as the benchmark in research and biomechanics
- Precise 3D positioning in space, particularly valuable for interactions
Combined setup: The systems can be flexibly integrated with one another depending on the application. The Xsens Link and the MANUS Metagloves operate in a single synchronised session in which whole-body and hand movements are captured simultaneously. This makes the combination equally valuable for teleoperation and human motion data collection: each training session provides complete motion data for the robot’s AI without the need for two separate recordings. Similarly, the MANUS Metagloves can be integrated with Vicon systems to combine optical tracking with detailed finger tracking.
Who is this aimed at?
- Manufacturers of humanoid robots (OEMs) who are setting up training infrastructure
- Companies that develop Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms
- Research institutions and universities specialising in embodied AI
- Companies with existing Vicon or Xsens infrastructure that wish to explore new areas of application
The services offered by prophysics
30 years’ experience in the DACH region
Official distributor: Vicon, Xsens, MANUS
Full-body & finger tracking, including combined tracking
Personal advice – from A to Z
Planning support
Experience it live at the Zurich showroom
Experience Xsens, MANUS and Vicon in action together – including a teleoperation demonstration with a robotic hand. Xsens Link and MANUS Metagloves are also available as loaner systems and can be evaluated directly in your own environment.
The systems in action
Xsens Link Teleoperation
MANUS Metagloves Case Study
Case Study Teleoperation
Ready for the next step?
Are you planning to set up a MoCap infrastructure for teleoperation or human motion data collection? We can offer you no-obligation advice on systems, integration and loaner systems.