Foldaway Haptics has developed a tactile, foldable joystick that grants portable devices a sense of touch. Drones, cellphones, and virtual reality (VR) controls can all benefit from this pocket-sized contraption.
The stiffness, texture, and shape of virtual objects is felt through its sophisticated force feedback. Users can also plug the low-power joystick directly into a mobile device or computer.
“Systems offering more refined tactile force feedback have come out recently,” says Marco Salerno, co-founder of Foldaway Haptics. “But they are bulky, hard to carry around, and very expensive.”
According to the company, their joystick offers a comparable haptic-feedback experience in a smaller, refined package.
Thanks to a tiny magnet, the device can transition from two-millimeters thick, to a three dimensional design in less than a second with just a flick of the wrist. The origami-inspired folding mechanism is created by an automated layer-by-layer manufacturing technique.
“The fact that no manual action is required keeps manufacturing costs relatively low,” says Stefano Mintchev, Foldaway Haptics’ other co-founder.
The joystick is gearing up to hit the market, and will be showcased at the Hannover Messe, the world’s largest trade fair for industrial technology, later this month.