XelerateVR: Revolutionary Omnidirectional Treadmills for Space Training and Virtual Reality

New ESA BIC Northern Germany startup develops game-changing locomotion technology for astronaut training and space applications: Virtual Reality (VR) has long promised to transport users into immersive digital worlds, but one fundamental problem has consistently broken that illusion: how to move naturally within virtual environments. Enter XelerateVR, the latest startup to join ESA BIC Northern Germany, with a groundbreaking solution that could finally unlock VR’s full potential.

The Motion Sickness Problem

Founder Marvin Fachtner’s journey began during his dual studies in Industrial Engineering and Electrical Engineering when he first experienced VR technology. While initially fascinated, he quickly encountered the industry’s most persistent roadblock: motion sickness. “More than 60% of VR users suffer from this,” Fachtner explains. The disconnect between visual movement and physical stillness creates a nauseating experience that has limited VR adoption for years.

Existing omnidirectional treadmills promised solutions but failed to deliver. Users found themselves sliding across plastic surfaces with unrealistic movement sensations, while tracking delays of up to 2 seconds made the experience even more jarring. “If you have a 2-second delay for step initiation, it’s both confusing for the brain and it breaks immersion,” Fachtner notes.

Space Applications Drive Innovation

What sets XelerateVR apart is its clear focus on space applications from day one. The startup joined ESA BIC Northern Germany because founder Marvin Fachtner recognized the perfect synergy between his VR expertise and space industry needs. “Space exploration, alongside Virtual Reality, is my greatest passion,” he explains.

The space sector presents unique and compelling use cases. Astronaut training requires the most realistic simulations possible, where traditional teleportation-based VR movement feels “so unrealistic that users might as well watch a video.” For pre-mission preparation, astronauts need to experience realistic locomotion in simulated lunar or Martian environments – something only possible with specialized omnidirectional treadmills that can simulate reduced gravity by partially supporting  the user’s weight.

Equally important is the psychological welfare aspect during long-duration missions. Current ISS treadmills force astronauts to stare at station walls during mandatory daily exercise. XelerateVR’s technology transforms this into immersive experiences limited only by imagination, providing crucial mental health benefits during months of confinement in space stations or future Moon/Mars colonies.

The results speak for themselves: approximately 400 testers at trade shows have unanimously declared it “the best VR treadmill they’ve tested.” Crucially, none experienced motion sickness – a breakthrough that validates the technology’s core promise. Over 1200 people have already joined the waiting list without significant marketing efforts, while dozens of enterprise customers are ready to purchase.

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Broader Applications Beyond Space

While space applications drive the technology development, the potential extends across multiple sectors. Gaming enthusiasts seek maximum immersion, enterprise customers need realistic training simulations for police, military, and firefighting, while universities want students walking through virtual environments. The German Bundeswehr has already scheduled testing visits, highlighting military training applications.

Technical Challenges for Space Deployment

The space environment demands specialized engineering solutions. For Earth-based astronaut training, the treadmills must simulate reduced planetary gravity – pulling users upward to partially reduce their body weight for Mars or Moon mission preparation. NASA has developed approaches for this, but never in combination with omnidirectional movement capabilities.

For actual space deployment, the engineering reverses: like current ISS treadmills that pull users downward to simulate Earth gravity during exercise, XelerateVR’s space-rated versions must provide the same gravitational simulation while enabling natural movement in all directions. This represents a significant technological leap beyond current space fitness equipment.

Industry Recognition and Future Vision

Major VR headset manufacturers – Meta, HTC, and Pico – have tested the treadmill, with representatives calling it “a game-changer for the VR industry.” All three companies are exploring integration possibilities to eliminate the need for separate PCs, reducing costs and complexity.

XelerateVR plans two product versions: a base model and a Pro-Version featuring haptic feedback vests, rumble haptics in the floor, integrated wired VR capabilities through rotating optical joints, and tilting capabilities for simulating hills and stairs.

Looking ahead 5-10 years, Fachtner envisions millions of treadmills serving diverse applications – with astronauts as primary users for training in Germany and eventually for daily operations on lunar bases and Mars colonies. “I see omnidirectional treadmills as essential for the VR industry,” he explains, “and naturally, I see them used by astronauts for training purposes, and treadmills on the Moon and Mars.”

This vision aligns perfectly with ESA’s long-term exploration goals, positioning XelerateVR as a critical technology provider for humanity’s expansion into the solar system. With production scaling planned for 2000-4000 units in the next 12 months, the company represents exactly the kind of space-focused innovation ESA BIC Northern Germany cultivates: solving fundamental challenges while opening new frontiers beyond Earth.

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About ESA BIC Northern Germany 

The Incubation Centre of the European Space Agency in Northern Germany (ESA BIC Northern Germany) is headquartered jointly with the Bremen aeronautics and space industries association at the Bremer Innovations- und Technologiezentrum BITZ as well as the Digihub Industry – two of the largest innovation and technology centres for high-tech companies and startups in the German federal state of Bremen. The ESA BIC Northern Germany brings new startup opportunities to the region and thus strengthens the aeronautics and space sector in the German federal state of Bremen. AVIASPACE BREMEN e.V. supports the incubatees with its network, public relations work and targeted coaching not only during the incubation period, but also afterwards as alumni. STARTHAUS Bremen & Bremerhaven is the central point of contact in the Bremen startup ecosystem and supports the startups on all issues relating to business development and financing. The ESA BIC Northern Germany is managed by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO), an international networking and branding company for the European space programmes that also manages ESA BIC Bavaria with three locations in southern Germany.

Since 2021, ESA BIC Northern Germany has also been offering its service to space-related startups in Schleswig-Holstein. The Technikzentrum Lübeck with GATEWAY49, AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. As of June 2024, ESA BIC Northern Germany also offers its services to space-related startups in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Innovation Port Wismar with AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. There are also plans to extend ESA BIC Northern Germany to the northern German federal states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Berlin-Brandenburg.

Technical support of the ESA BIC Northern Germany, is offered by Fraunhofer IFAM, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, DLR-RY Institute for Space Systems, Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research AWI, Universities in the State of Bremen incl. many institutes such as IUP Institute for Environmental Physics, Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity ZARM, TH Lübeck, University Lübeck,  Life Science Nord, Airbus Group, ArianeGroup, AES Aircraft Elektro/Elektronik System, Dräger, DSI Aerospace, Possehl, and OHB.