Smart-gaming sleeve enters military field trials
How can a patrol communicate quickly and silently without speech, hand signals or radio traffic? Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is developing a smart sleeve for military use and is currently testing it in the field together with the Finnish National Defence University (NDU).
In NDU field exercises the team is evaluating Spiritus Ludi, a smart sleeve originally created at HAMK for e-sports. By tapping the sleeve, the wearer can send a haptic message—felt as a vibration on the forearm—to other team members. No words, gestures or visible devices are needed. This could improve coordination and message clarity, especially when silence and speed are critical.
Two trials have been run so far, the latest in Hanko in June. Early results are promising: the sleeve has proved useful, particularly in urban combat training, complementing other communication methods and helping the patrol remain covert and coordinated.
Military Professor Antti-Tuomas Pulkka has followed the field trials closely and believes the smart sleeve can support patrol leadership alongside other communication methods.
Our initial observations clearly justify further trials.
Military Professor Antti-Tuomas Pulkka
“The sleeve could be useful for leading a patrol or squad in addition to existing techniques. It offers another option, much like a hand signal or a short verbal command. Our initial observations clearly justify further trials. Working with HAMK has been agile and productive, and everything has run smoothly in both directions,” Pulkka says.
The trials gather data on sleeve use, user experience and its effect on patrol performance, and define user requirements for the next development phase. Testing in real exercises is essential for product development.
“It’s fascinating to watch technology born in e-sports take shape in a completely different setting. Field trials quickly reveal what works, what doesn’t and where the key improvements lie—exactly why this kind of testing is invaluable,” says Senior Research Fellow Satu Jumisko-Pyykkö of HAMK, who is involved in the exercises.
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More about the projects
Smart Wearables for Team Strengthening
A €700 000 Business Finland research project aimed at developing and commercialising smart garments that enhance team communication in defence and civilian contexts.
DEFINE – Defence Innovation Network Finland
A national network that brings together defence, research and industry to advance dual-use technologies.
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