In modern military aviation, fighter jets are loaded with advanced technology that can be difficult for pilots to manage. Pilots often experience high stress when managing multiple sensors, alerts, and data streams.
Human error is a major issue, with studies showing that most non-combat aviation accidents result from cognitive overload rather than mechanical failures. This can lead to the loss of costly aircraft and, more importantly, trained pilots for air forces.
Dutch deep-tech startup Touchwaves is tackling this problem by shifting the focus from machines to humans. The company develops wearable haptic technology that delivers intuitive, non-visual signals through touch, helping pilots stay aware and make faster decisions when workload and pressure peak.
“While most innovations in military aviation focus on aircraft systems, our mission is to elevate human performance. By supporting pilots with intuitive, non-invasive haptic feedback, we help them operate more effectively in the most demanding environments,” said Charlotte Kjellander, co-founder of Touchwaves.
To accelerate this work, Touchwaves has raised €1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by SecFund, a fund aligned with the innovation needs of the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Other backers include TNO Ventures, Brabant Startup Fonds, imec.istart, Joanna Invests, and support from NWO’s Take-off programme.
Developing a new generation of dual-use wearable haptics technologies
Founded by Charlotte Kjellander and Martin Romero, Touchwaves focuses on wearable haptics technologies that enhance human performance and situational awareness, enabling intuitive interaction with complex systems in high-workload environments.
A spin-off from TNO, Touchwaves is already working with defence partners, including the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Forces, to test wearable haptic systems for fighter jet pilots. The goal is to reduce mental strain by offloading some information from screens and sounds to the sense of touch.
“Aircraft systems keep improving, but the human remains the limiting factor. By using subtle and non-invasive haptic feedback, we help pilots stay focused and perform better in the most demanding situations,” said co-founder Charlotte Kjellander.
Touchwaves’ technology originated in military aviation and can also improve performance in other high-stress situations beyond fighter pilots.
Future uses include:
- Elite Sports: Helping athletes with breathing, body awareness, and recovery using haptic feedback.
- Ground Forces: Providing alerts to manage fatigue and workload.
- Healthcare and Wellbeing: Offering guidance to enhance focus, awareness, and resilience.
“Modern aircraft are incredibly advanced, but the human remains the decisive factor. Our technology is designed to complement existing systems by enhancing situational awareness and resilience under high workload and stress,” added Martin Romero, co-founder of Touchwaves.
What’s next?
The fresh funding will be used to advance product development, validate the technology in operational settings, and prepare it for broader adoption across NATO air forces.
