Seamlessly blending the real and virtual worlds
NASA needed their Pistol Grip Tool, a go-to tool used on the ISS, to track in SteamVR for the training to achieve ultimate immersion. Over the course of three months, Synapse worked closely with the Hybrid Reality Lab to create a custom controller that tracks reliably in SteamVR, but aesthetically looks and feels like the Pistol Grip Tool.
Synapse leveraged in-house fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing and laser cutting capabilities to build and test fully functional, low-cost prototypes, ensuring accurate simulation of switches, buttons, and exterior shape before producing robust high-quality units.
Synapse delivered four 3D printed, trackable devices that accurately simulate the real Pistol Grip Tool used on the space station at the conclusion of the project.