View source for Sensics piSight

{{Device Infobox
|image =
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]
|Subtype = Professional VR
|Platform = Professional systems
|Creator = [[Sensics]]
|Announced = 2006
|Release = 2006
|Discontinued = ~2019
|Price = $27,500-$100,000
|Website = (defunct)
|OS = Professional systems
|CPU = Host system dependent
|GPU = Host system dependent
|Storage =
|RAM =
|Display = 24 x OLED microdisplays (eMagin)
|Resolution = 2200 x 1200 per eye (up to 4200 x 2400)
|Refresh = 60 Hz
|Brightness =
|FOV = 82° to 180° diagonal (configurable)
|PPD =
|Lenses = Custom panoramic optics
|IPD = Adjustable
|Eye Tracking =
|Hand Tracking =
|Tracking = 3DoF (gyroscope-based)
|Spatial Mapping =
|Speakers =
|Microphone =
|Audio Jack =
|Connectivity =
|Ports =
|Battery =
|Weight = 905g (1.99 lb)
|Materials =
|Colors =
|Sensors = Gyroscope
|Input =
}}

The '''Sensics piSight''' was a professional-grade [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] developed by [[Sensics]], Inc. Released in 2006, the piSight was a highly bespoke product designed exclusively for military, defense, and industrial applications. It featured an unprecedented ultra-panoramic field of view of up to 180 degrees achieved through 24 OLED microdisplays arranged in a tiled configuration.<ref name="nasa">{{cite web|url=https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/ct_6.html|title=Virtual Reality System Offers a Wide Perspective|publisher=NASA Spinoff}}</ref>

== History and Development ==

=== Sensics Corporation ===
Sensics, Inc. was a company specializing in high-end professional virtual reality display systems. The company focused on serving demanding applications in military simulation, aerospace training, and industrial design.

=== NASA Partnership ===
A Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) project culminated with Sensics delivering a piSight HMD to NASA's Johnson Space Center in February 2008. The system included an additional panoramic, high-resolution camera array that enabled remote control and telepresence applications, immersing operators in robotic workspaces in real time.<ref name="nasa"/>

=== Company Status ===
As of January 2025, the Sensics website is no longer active. According to the Maryland Secretary of State, Sensics has been forfeited since 2019.<ref name="vrcompare">{{cite web|url=https://vr-compare.com/headset/sensicspisight|title=Sensics piSight: Full Specification|publisher=VRcompare}}</ref>

== Design and Hardware ==

=== Revolutionary Display Architecture ===
The piSight's most distinctive feature was its multi-display architecture:
* '''Display Count:''' 24 OLED microdisplays from [[eMagin]]
* '''Configuration:''' 12 microdisplays per eye, arranged in a tiled concave wraparound pattern
* '''Total Pixels:''' Nearly 6 million pixels per eye

This tiled display approach enabled field of view and resolution combinations impossible to achieve with single-display designs of the era.<ref name="researchgate">{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Sensics-piSight-HMD-showing-tiled-microdisplays-Image-courtesy-of-Sensics-Inc_fig5_228855682|title=The Sensics piSight HMD showing tiled microdisplays|publisher=ResearchGate}}</ref>

=== Field of View ===
The piSight could be configured for various field of view settings:
* '''Minimum:''' 82° diagonal
* '''Maximum:''' Up to 180° diagonal
* '''Typical Configuration:''' Greater than 150 degrees

This ultra-wide field of view provided unprecedented peripheral vision coverage for simulation applications.

=== Resolution ===
Resolution specifications varied by configuration:
* '''Standard:''' 2200 x 1200 effective per eye
* '''High-End:''' Up to 4200 x 2400 pixels per eye (2400 x 1720 effective)
* '''Color Depth:''' 24-bit color

=== Physical Characteristics ===
Despite its complex display architecture:
* '''Weight:''' 905 grams (1.99 pounds)
* '''Design:''' Stable, comfortable, and adjustable to individual head and eye shapes

== Tracking ==

The piSight incorporated 3DoF gyroscope-based head tracking for rotational movement detection.

== Applications ==

=== Military and Defense ===
The piSight was designed primarily for military and defense simulation training applications, where the wide field of view enabled more realistic training scenarios.

=== Aerospace ===
NASA's use of the system for robotics telepresence demonstrated applications in space exploration and remote operations.

=== Industrial Design ===
Automobile designers used the piSight to "sit" in the driver's seat of virtual vehicle designs, exploring designs in a realistic, immersive experience before physical prototypes were built.

=== Training ===
Various companies utilized the system for training purposes involving specific task simulations where peripheral vision was important.

== Pricing ==

The piSight was a premium professional product with corresponding pricing:
* '''Base Configuration:''' Starting at approximately $27,500
* '''Advanced Configurations:''' Up to $100,000 depending on customization
* '''Optional Features:''' Additional camera arrays for extended field of view

== Specifications ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Specification !! Details
|-
| Display Type || 24 x OLED microdisplays (eMagin)
|-
| Displays per Eye || 12 (tiled configuration)
|-
| Resolution || 2200 x 1200 to 4200 x 2400 per eye
|-
| Pixel Count || ~6 million per eye
|-
| Color Depth || 24-bit
|-
| Field of View || 82° to 180° (configurable)
|-
| Refresh Rate || 60 Hz
|-
| Tracking || 3DoF (gyroscope)
|-
| Weight || 905g (1.99 lb)
|-
| Price Range || $27,500 - $100,000
|-
| Target Market || Military, aerospace, industrial
|}

== Legacy ==

The Sensics piSight represented the pinnacle of professional VR display technology in its era. Its innovative tiled microdisplay approach influenced later developments in wide field of view VR systems. While Sensics is no longer operational, the technologies pioneered in the piSight contributed to ongoing research in panoramic and high-resolution virtual reality displays.

== See Also ==
* [[eMagin]]
* [[Virtual Reality]]
* [[Professional VR]]
* [[Wide field of view VR]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:VR Headsets]]
[[Category:Head-mounted displays]]
[[Category:Professional VR]]
[[Category:Military VR]]
[[Category:Historical VR devices]]
[[Category:OLED displays]]