Exploring Haptic Go Karts, Futuristic Patents, and Essential Resources
The March 2024 Edition of the All Things Haptics Newsletter
Hey Haptics Industry Insider,
Welcome to the latest edition of the All Things Haptics Newsletter, your quintessential source for the most relevant updates and insights in the haptic industry.
In this edition, we unveil a treasure trove of intriguing haptic patents from industry giants such as Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Sony. While patents don't guarantee the future, they serve as compelling indicators of where significant investments are being made.
This month, we also highlight some noteworthy updates, including interesting insights into robot surgery, recent developments in automotive haptics, and a wealth of invaluable resources tailored to enrich your journey in haptics. Let's dive in!
Patents
Glimpses into tomorrow's possibilities.
🎶 MSG Entertainment Group - “Portable haptic systems for use within a venue.” - The vibrations propagate through the seats to provide new immersive experiences. (Patent Scope)
🪟 Microsoft: “Computing device with haptic trackpad.” - The patent covers computing devices and methods for adjusting a driving signal for a haptic trackpad. (Patent Scope)
🍎 Apple: “Variable friction and multi-texture mouse.” - The assembly has a piece that pops out of a hole at the bottom to change how smoothly or toughly it slides across tables or desks, which, according to patent drawings, looks in correlation to conveying surface textures. (Patent Scope)
🎮 Sony: “Haptic Module and Controller Having Rotational Weight Distribution.” - A controller that features a rotatable weighted component that shifts the device's mass center in response to specific triggers, offering directional haptic feedback. (80 LV)
🍃 Ultrahaptics: “Algorithm improvements in a haptic system.” - The patent includes ‘Computation Sharing for Reduced Bandwidth and Latency’ and ‘Reducing Requirements for Machines Solving for Control Points in Haptic Systems.’ (Patent Scope)
🐕 Canine Companions for Independence: “System for alerting service animals to perform specified tasks.” - A system includes an alert device on a service animal and a handler's monitoring device, triggering haptic alerts for the animal to perform tasks based on the handler's physiological parameters. (Patent Scope)
🌈 Google: “Systems and methods for presenting scrolling online content on mobile devices.” - A method enables serving horizontally scrolling content within a vertical online publication, based on user device display info and responsive to haptic inputs. (Patent Scope)
🦾 Meta: “Apparatus, system, and method for controlling soft fluidic actuators.” - An apparatus, system, and method for controlling soft fluidic actuators via sensor feedback and machine learning models. (Patent Scope)
🌪️ Force Dimension: “Adjustable mechanical motion range limitation apparatus.”- This patent introduces an adjustable apparatus designed to mechanically limit the motion range between two linkage members of a haptic device. (Patent Scope)
🏍️ Damon Motors: “Motorcycle with haptic braking hazard alert.” - Motorcycle haptic devices in handlebars, footpegs, and seats alert riders to hazards ahead of time, offering instructions to prevent accidents. (Patent Scope)
📺 Sony: “Operation device (10) capable of expressing haptic perception.” - An operation device offers haptic feedback via a lattice of link shafts and node mechanisms that adjust the orientation and vibrate based on the nodes' states. (Patent Scope)
🍽️ Goodix Technology: “Pressure touch-control plate and electronic device.” - This patent details a touch-control plate with an asymmetrically placed haptic feedback component. (Patent Scope)
News & Industry Updates
🎮 Xbox Controller Leak - The next Xbox controller will reportedly be called the Nocturnal Vapor and hit the market this April. Buzzing through the grapevine, early whispers reveal it's packed with "DualSense-like haptic feedback support." (MSN)
🩺 Gentle Robot Surgery - The Intuitive da Vinci 5, a system for surgical robotics, was released with some new upgrades. Thus far, the team has seen 43% less force on tissue with the use of Force Feedback, which translates to gentler surgeries for patients. (Medical Design and Outsourcing)
👟 Running Towards Rumble - The company Trailforks introduced the new 'Trailer' feature to support runners. It gives you 3 different audible and haptic alerts, including when you’re near a waypoint. (Pink Bike)
👔 Forging the Future of the Metaverse - The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Dr. Ho Seong Lee) is partnering with government-funded research institutes and universities to create a hyper-realistic metaverse that can be touched. (Eurekalert)
🤖 Infiniti for No Knobs The 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron will feature an overhauled interior interface, replacing the haptic controller knob with advanced voice recognition and a spacious touchscreen display. (Arstechnica)
💧 BMW’s Neue Klasse Concept - The Newu Klasse aims to preview BMW’s custom electric SUV lineup, featuring an interior that combines haptic-feedback buttons on the steering wheel with physical buttons throughout the cabin. (Motor 1)
🚙 Leaked Volkswagen Tayron SUV - Step inside the Tayron, and you’ll be greeted by screens, and the use of haptic buttons adds a touch of sophistication and a futuristic feel to the interior. The China-spec model boasts an additional screen on the passenger side. (TimesBull)
🏁 Segway To a Haptic Go Kart - Segway, best known for its self-balancing transporter, has a lesser-known at-home haptic experience for go-kart enthusiasts. Go Kart Pro 2 is described as having “360-degree haptics” (Segway).
🛵 Betting on Haptics and AI - The CEO of Ather Energy aims to transform the scooter industry soon, planning to use haptics for driving feedback, including optimal braking times. (Economic Times)
📵 Satisfactory Tactile Feedback- According to a reviewer, the new Samsung S24+ has haptics that are strong and precise and well integrated with the UI, but would overall classify them as “acceptable.” (The Mobile Indian)
Resources
A curated mix of essential studies, innovative concepts, and the latest learning materials.
🦯 Empowering the Visually Impaired to Touch and See 3D Art - People with sight loss have welcomed a project enabling them to appreciate paintings at Lancaster Museum using touch. (Mirage News)
🚗 Euro Calls for Car Safety - Euro NCAP highlights the dangers of touchscreen controls in cars, stressing that they distract drivers and increase accident risks, according to Director Matthew Avery. (The Sun My)
🎹 MIT Play Piano - Researchers create a smart glove in hopes of helping people learn new physical skills. (MIT)
🦾 Telerobotics to Clean up Human Messes - A new dual-armed telerobotic system for hazardous waste clean-up was successfully demonstrated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory. (ANL)
🆚 Feedback for Interactions with Virtual versus Physical Displays - This study explores user experience with vibrotactile feedback on different body parts during virtual interactions. (Springer)
☁️ Squishy Marshmallow - A team of researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has created SORI (Softness Rendering Interface), which can recreate the softness of a range of materials. (Interesting Engineering \ YouTube)
🌳 Haptic Glove for Environmental Awareness - The Junior Achievement team called ‘Creed’ pitched the ‘Sensoguard,’ a glove that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects in the environment by relaying signals to haptic motors on the fingertips. (iomtoday)
🦷 High-Tech Tickles - Integration of VR-haptic tech into Ireland and Northern Ireland’s dental curriculum is underway. (Irelands Dentalmag)
🚪 Door-Opening Redirection with Dynamic Haptics in Room-Scale VR - Enhancing VR experiences by incorporating a robot-based door interaction. (YouTube)
That’s it for now!
The industry's current state reflects a period of introspection and consolidation rather than a flurry of new product launches. This phase, characterized by analysis and learning, particularly in the aftermath of major events like CES, is essential for refining approaches and products. Despite perceptions of a downturn, underlying vibrant activity suggests a different narrative at play. 🕹️ And, of course, you’ll hear about it here first.
To share your updates and news with the haptics community, reach out on Linkedin, X, or anonymously here. If you find this resource helpful, please share it and consider subscribing to premium for special editions.
Cheers!
Ashley Huffman
aka The Queen of Haptics
Co-founder of Haptics Club Podcast
Strategic Partnership at TITAN Haptics