Pressure Profile Systems
Hawthorne, CA maker of capacitive tactile pressure sensors (TactArray, FingerTPS) for robotics, medical devices, and ergonomics since 1996.
Pressure Profile Systems (PPS), now operating as PPS UK Limited, was founded in 1996 by two graduates of the Harvard University Robotics Lab. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, PPS designs, develops, and manufactures high-performance multi-element tactile pressure and force sensing systems used across robotics, medical devices, consumer electronics, and wearables research.
The company's core technology originated at Harvard and was refined through funding from DARPA, the Army Research Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health. This government-backed R&D heritage underpins PPS's position as a global leader in capacitive tactile sensing.
PPS's flagship product line, TactArray, encompasses several form factors: the Conformable TactArray (soft conductive cloth, ~1mm thick, sensing resolution 2–10 mm, pressure range 2–80 psi, operating temperature –20°C to 85°C); the Industrial TactArray (Kapton/Polyimide construction, up to 700 psi, –40°C to 200°C); and the Stretchable TactArray (silver-metalized Spandex, stretches up to 10% while maintaining data quality). The FingerTPS II is a wearable Bluetooth-connected finger pressure sensor originally funded by DARPA to capture surgeon grip forces for virtual surgical simulation. The ManoScan is a catheter-based system with 36 sensors for high-resolution esophageal diagnostics. The SingleTact is a compact capacitive sensor designed for industrial and research instrumentation.
In robotics, PPS sensors enable real-time measurement of contact start, contact force, contact location, contact area, pressure distribution, and incipient slip — critical parameters for robotic grippers, dexterous manipulation, and human-robot interaction research. Medical and consumer applications include ergonomic footwear, mammography machines, gastrointestinal diagnostic equipment, and wearable biomechanics measurement.
PPS has collaborated with broadcast science programs such as SportScience and FightScience to measure forces from elite athletes including NFL Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice and MMA legend Randy Couture. The company sells sensors globally and supports both off-the-shelf catalog products and custom sensing solutions for OEM integration.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
TactArray
Thin-sheet capacitive tactile pressure mapping sensor available in conformable, industrial, and stretchable variants for robotics and research.
FingerTPS II
Wearable Bluetooth finger pressure sensor for measuring grip and touch forces; originally DARPA-funded for surgical simulation research.
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Contact Pressure Profile Systems
WEBSITE
https://pressureprofile.comPHONE
+1 310-641-8100HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
1996
Primary Role
Component Supplier
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
