usens Inc

About usens Inc

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Jose, California, uSens Inc. operated in the field of computer vision and human-computer interaction for the augmented and virtual reality markets. The company was established by a team including CEO Anli He, CTO Dr. Yue Fei, and COO Chris Shi. The founding team possessed a blend of technical and business experience from companies like Intel, AT&T, and Schlumberger, with Dr. Fei being a researcher in 3D user interfaces and virtual reality.

uSens focused on developing inside-out tracking solutions, which do not require external sensors. Its core technology included a 26-degree-of-freedom (26DOF) hand-tracking system and a 6-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) positional tracking solution, based on Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms. This technology was designed to allow users to interact with digital content in AR/VR environments using their bare hands, aiming to replace peripheral controllers and external cameras. The business model centered on providing its tracking technology, via hardware modules and a software development kit (SDK), to AR/VR headset manufacturers and developers. The company's solutions were compatible with a range of platforms, including mobile systems like Google Cardboard and Samsung GearVR, as well as tethered headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

The company's journey included several funding rounds, securing a notable $20 million Series A in June 2016, bringing its total raised capital to over $26 million. uSens launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 for a hardware product called Impression Pi, but later refunded all backers in 2017. It also had offices in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen to support its global operations. While the company was active in forming partnerships and developing its technology, it has since been reported as a dead-pooled entity.