I’ve been watching developments of robotics and peripherals with anticipation. Engineers continually get closer to mechanisms that can make life so much better for handicapped or aged people. Not to mention extensive use cases in manufacturing.
This news concerns a company emerging from stealth with a hand exoskeleton with exciting sensory input along with a its operating system (Alan Kay—People who are really serious about software should build their hardware.).
Haptikos (Sunnyvale, CA and Athens) emerged from stealth January 27 at the 1st Annual MIT Experiential Innovation Event in Cambridge, MA. The company specifically announced a groundbreaking new hand exoskeleton, which is part of the Haptikos ecosystem of integrated hardware and software (priced at $2,500 per evaluation unit and available singly as well), with the eventual goal of a sub-$1000 final price point by 2026 when the final production units ship.
Partnered with the company’s AI-infused Haptik_OS (immediately available for license), the exoskeleton and OS combination brings a complete sense of touch to VR and AR apps and use cases. Hepaticas exoskeleton prototypes are already in use by leading companies such as Siemens and Leonardo and are designed for markets ranging from medical, defense and robotics. Whether it’s a single drop of water or the pulse of a heartbeat, Haptikos makes every virtual interaction deeply immersive and allows users to “touch tomorrow, today.”
Haptikos Exoskeleton:
The exoskeleton prototype makes it possible to feel the distinct sensations of different materials, from smooth surfaces to intricate textures. Whether handling virtual objects in training or design, Haptikos makes digital environments feel tangible and lifelike, enhancing overall realism. With a rise of 12 ms and a fall time of 55 ms, Haptikos ensures every touch and interaction feels immediate and smooth.
The Haptikos hand exoskeleton has 24 Degrees of Freedom per hand (DoF), with sub-millimeter motion accuracy and 8 hours continuous usage that is unmatched in the industry, even by long-shipping commercial alternatives. With control over every joint, users are ensured of lifelike movements from the most delicate gestures to the most complex actions.
Included in the exoskeleton are:
- Tracking sensors
- Haptic sensors
- Kinaesthetic sensors (will be added later in 2025)
Through these sensors, Haptikos tracks the movement of each hand joint with incredible detail. This means full, natural control over every motion, from finger curls to complex hand gestures, making digital interactions feel fluid and intuitive. With sub-millimeter precision, Haptikos captures even the smallest user motions.
This high level of accuracy ensures that every gesture, no matter how subtle, is translated into the virtual world with fidelity.
HAPTIK_OS:
The haptik_OS app is the central hub for connecting Haptikos exoskeleton and seamlessly integrating their capabilities into projects and motion control, redirecting this data into the acclaimed Unity® Software Development Kit (SDK) with ease.
The haptik_OS is itself at the core of the Haptikos ecosystem, connecting developers, designers, and end-users to create lifelike, intuitive and immersive experiences. Through built-in AI functionality, haptik_OS automatically adapts pre-built libraries into new haptic XR applications in Unity, simplifying both integration and scaling.
The haptik_OS is available immediately via three tiers of license:
- Freemium: Basic tools for developers to start exploring.
- Basic Tier: SDK for integration into applications.
- Pro Tier: Full access to AI-driven tools for automated customization.
Quotes:
“Haptikos exoskeletons have expanded the training program for the postpartum balloon procedure,” said Dr. Aoife Mcevoy, Specialist Registrar & Clinical Tutor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology National Maternity Hospital | UCD School of Medicine. “Both clinicians and students experienced a significant improvement in their procedural skills following the use of Haptikos. The realistic tactile feedback and precise control enabled by Haptikos allowed for a more immersive and effective learning experience, greatly enhancing trainee confidence levels in their skillset for this critical procedure.”
“Haptikos really impressed the entire MIT Innovation Technology team with their advanced haptics, and we are extremely pleased they saw the value of launching at our premiere event in tandem with the MIT Reality Hack,” said Maria Rice, Executive Director of the MIT Reality Hack. “Haptics have been a long-overlooked component of a complete XR solution, and their combination of haptics, operating system and AI combined with the industry-leading Unity SDK is a win for all developers seeking the next XR frontier.”
“We are extremely excited to finally be emerging from stealth in the hallowed halls of MIT, where their slogan of “mens et manus” – Latin for “to mind and hand” – has taken on a new and very literal meaning,” said Greg Agriopoulos, CEO and co-founder of Haptikos, Inc. “Competitive haptics solutions are normally glove-based, and never fit correctly on most hands – our exoskeleton fits everyone perfectly, is far more accurate, far less costly and is the only solution coupled with an actual software solution that makes it genuinely useful across a range of markets.”