US Air Force Awards Funding to HaptX

The Firm Specialising in Hardware Simulating Realistic Touch Earns Innovation Contract

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HaptX Awarded Funding by U.S. Air Force
Mixed RealityInsights

Published: June 9, 2021

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Rory Greener

With help from Aloha Spark and Tron Team, California-based HaptX Inc recently won a small business innovation research contract (SBIR) from US military tech and talent recruitment programme AFWERX and the United States Air Force (USAF). 

HaptX is focused on delivering the most realistic haptic feedback technologies to robotics and virtual reality (VR) platforms.

Haptic feedback creates an immersive experience for users by simulating touch through vibrations and force via a handheld controller. 

Commonly used for mobile phone notifications, Tokyo-based tech giant Sony revolutionised the technology via its flagship PlayStation 5, which included controllers with pressure sensitive triggers.

Haptic feedback is usually applied through a series of motors which control vibration functions on a device or controller, but HaptX are using new technologies to increase immersion.  

HaptX also patented the “Gloves DK2”, which incorporates haptic technology more advanced than previous motor-based vibration hardware.

The gloves take advantage of a multitude of hardware and software that comes together to achieve an incredibly realistic feedback system.

Using precise actuators, the gloves are made up of a “microfluidic skin” that can apply up to 2mm of pressure on the user.

Through the force-feedback exoskeleton surrounding the user’s hands, the gloves also simulate the shape and weight of virtual objects by applying up to 40 lbs of pressure to each hand.

The hardware is matched by complementary software along with a magnetic motion tracker that can render full bodies. The exclusive software development kit (SDK) is open to developers and supported  across platforms such as SteamlinkVR, Unreal Engine, and Unity. 

The Future for HaptX 

The news comes as the US Army, US Air Force, and other military branches have shown support and interest in mixed reality (MR) hardware.

XR Today recently reported the US Army awarded funding to Kent State researchers in June for their biometric technologies.

Washington-based AFWERX is helping to expand technology and talent for emerging firms, creating rapid and affordable transitions into America’s commercial and military sectors. 

With the trio in a partnership, HaptX hardware should see testing across the US Air Force in the near future, potentially followed with additional testing across the US Army.

 

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