Xsens unveils next-generation humanoid robotics motion capture system | Engineer Live
Xsens, a Movella brand known for its inertial motion capture expertise, has introduced a major update to its mocap lineup with the next-generation Xsens Link system and a new software suite, Xsens Humanoid. Together, the hardware and software are designed to convert nuanced human movement into clean, robot-ready kinematics for dataset creation, live teleoperation, and simulation—accelerating development across the humanoid robotics stack.
The launch targets humanoid robot manufacturers, industrial users, AI data collection firms, and research teams working at the intersection of biomechanics, robotics, and automation. By streamlining capture-to-control workflows, Xsens aims to reduce the friction that often slows high-volume training and evaluation in real-world environments.
Rebuilt Link hardware for speed and reliability
The new Xsens Link system has been re-engineered end-to-end to prioritize performance, comfort, and uptime. The suit’s design supports extended capture sessions with minimal interruptions, which is essential for large-scale data collection and long-duration teleoperation or research studies.
- Integrated, washable cabling to simplify setup and maintenance
- Wi‑Fi 6E streaming for higher throughput and reduced latency
- Refined sensor alignment for faster initialization and consistent results
- Flexible, comfortable fabric for improved ergonomics during long sessions
“Xsens has been at the forefront of motion capture innovation for over a decade. The original Link set the gold standard for professional inertial mocap, and this new generation builds on that foundation with a complete redesign for modern research and robotics workflows. It’s a faster, smarter, and more comfortable suit built for the emerging needs of the industry.”
— Dennis Kloppenburg, Product Manager at Xsens
Xsens Humanoid: motion-to-robot kinematics
Complementing the hardware refresh, Xsens Humanoid is a software platform that translates human motion into precise robot kinematics with low latency. Its purpose-built design supports scaled deployment across teleoperation, simulation, and AI model training—allowing humanoid systems to imitate, learn from, and ultimately automate tasks based on natural human movement.
To fit seamlessly into modern robotics development pipelines, Xsens Humanoid includes native integrations and Linux-based receivers compatible with widely used tools and simulators:
- ROS 2 for robotics middleware and control
- NVIDIA Isaac Sim for photorealistic simulation and validation
- MuJoCo for physics-based modeling and research
These integrations help teams move from recorded human motion to robot-executable trajectories more quickly, while maintaining the fidelity required for learning and control algorithms. The result is a tighter loop between data capture, policy training, and real-world deployment.
“Building on our heritage as the leader in motion capture technology, this product launch reflects our focus and commitment to serving the Humanoid Robotics ecosystem, providing advanced, accurate, and scalable solutions that support the tremendous growth we expect in this industry over the next decade. Combined, the hardware and software form a comprehensive ecosystem that bridges human motion and machine learning to enable faster, more accurate, and more accessible humanoid robot development.”
— Eric Salzman, CEO of Movella
Who it’s for—and why it matters
As humanoid platforms mature, developers need motion data that is both high quality and immediately usable in robotics pipelines. The new Xsens Link and Xsens Humanoid address that need by collapsing multiple steps—capture, cleaning, retargeting, and streaming—into a streamlined workflow. For manufacturers and industrial operators, this can mean faster teleoperation pilots, more robust model training, and smoother transitions from simulation to the factory floor. For researchers, it offers a reliable path to study human-robot interaction, biomechanics-informed control, and skill transfer.
Taken together, the hardware and software create an end-to-end path from human intent to robot action—positioning Xsens and Movella as key players in the emerging humanoid robotics ecosystem.
