Haptics Applications and Technologies in AR/VR

By Aarav Kumar, 2025

Haptics technologies in AR and vR enable users to physically feel virtual objects, surfaces, and events within augmented environments. Through the integration of haptic feedback devices such as vests, gloves, ultrasound emitters, and controllers, users can experience more immersive and intuitive interactions with digital content. They play an important part in a range of fields, including gaming, medical simulation, remote training, industrial design, and social interaction.

Types of Haptic Technologies

Wearable Haptics

Haptic Vests

- - A haptic vest is a wearable device that covers the torso and contains multiple actuators (motors, vibrators, or pneumatic units) that deliver localized sensations corresponding to virtual events. The vest translates digital signals into real-world sensations like impact, vibration, or pressure.
  - How It Works: Sensors and actuators inside the vest receive input from the AR system and activate specific regions on the body based on virtual interactions. This can simulate things like gunfire hits, environmental vibrations, or even subtle touches.
  - Examples:

bHaptics TactSuit X40: A wireless haptic vest with 40 vibrotactile motors providing synchronized feedback for training simulations and multiplayer gaming.
Woojer Vest Edge: Utilizes low-frequency audio signals converted into vibrations, enhancing AR concerts, music, and immersive sports simulations.

Woojer Vest Edge Haptics Vest

HaptX G1 Gloves

Haptics Gloves

Haptic gloves are wearable devices designed to replicate the feeling of touching, grabbing, or manipulating virtual objects. They typically provide tactile feedback (vibration), force feedback (resistance), and skin stretch to mimic real-world hand interactions.
How It Works: Sensors track finger movements while actuators apply force or vibration to the fingers and palm. Some advanced gloves use microfluidics or mechanical brakes to simulate the resistance and texture of virtual objects.
Examples:

HaptX Gloves DK2: Employs microfluidic actuators to create highly detailed sensations, enabling realistic grasping of objects in AR-based industrial and medical simulations.
SenseGlove Nova: Lightweight exoskeleton-style gloves that provide active contact feedback, force feedback, and vibrotactile feedback to simulate grasping and handling, particularly for training purposes.

MID-AIR Haptics

Ultrasound Emitters:

Devices that project focused ultrasound waves to create pressure sensations that can be felt on the skin without physical contact.
How It Works: Arrays of ultrasonic transducers emit high-frequency sound waves that intersect at a focal point, producing a force field in mid-air that users can perceive as a touch.
Examples:
- Ultraleap STRATOS Inspire: Generates mid-air tactile feedback, often used for AR kiosks, automotive HUD interactions, and public installations.
- University of Tokyo's HaptoClone: Combines volumetric visuals with ultrasonic haptics, enabling users to "touch" virtual 3D holograms in collaborative AR spaces.

Ultraleap Haptics

CONTROLLER-BASED Haptics

Gaming / VR Headset Controllers

These are the more traditional handheld devices equipped with haptic actuators that vibrate, resist movement, or otherwise simulate touch sensations— technologies you might more typically experience in terms of haptics.
How It Works: Embedded actuators respond to user actions, such as pressing a virtual button or colliding with virtual objects, providing immediate tactile feedback.
Examples:
- Meta Quest Touch Plus Controllers: Deliver responsive haptic feedback during AR passthrough experiences, enhancing realism.
- Magic Leap Controller: Features subtle haptic pulses that confirm user gestures and object manipulations within spatial computing apps.

Specialized Tools

Microsoft Haptic Stylus Prototype: A pen-like tool for AR drawing and UI interaction that simulates resistance and textures, making virtual surfaces feel more realistic.

Meta Quest Touch Plus Controller Haptics

Applications of HAPTICS Technologies

Fundamental Surgery Platform Haptics

Medical Training and Simulation

SONON 300C Handheld Ultrasound with Haptics: Combines AR overlays with haptic gloves to allow medical students to "feel" internal anatomical features during simulated ultrasound procedures.
Fundamental Surgery Platform: Integrates AR visuals with haptic gloves for practicing surgery techniques. Simulates the sensations and haptics of bone textures, muscle, and soft tissue, along with their interaction with surgical tools and medical devices.

Industrial Design and Remote Collaboration

HaptX + Nissan Collaboration: Nissan used HaptX Gloves in collaboration with AR design tools to let automotive designers physically feel surfaces and make ergonomic adjustments to car interiors early in the prototyping phase, reducing reliance on costly clay models.
SenseGlove + Volkswagen: Volkswagen engineers use SenseGlove Nova during assembly line planning and ergonomics studies. Workers "feel" the weight, stiffness, and resistance of virtual tools and parts, refining assembly procedures before physical equipment is built.

Social and Educational AR

AltSpace VR: Social VR platforms like AltspaceVR create virtual spaces where users can meet, communicate, and collaborate. These platforms are utilized in educational settings to facilitate interactive learning experiences and virtual classrooms.
National Gallery of Prague: In 2018, the National Gallery of Prague launched 'Touching Masterpieces,' a VR experience that allows visually impaired and blind visitors to 'see' famous sculptures through touch. This innovative project utilized haptic gloves to provide tactile feedback, enabling users to feel the contours and textures of renowned artworks in a virtual environment. By combining virtual reality with haptic technology, the exhibition offered an inclusive and immersive experience, allowing participants to engage with art in a profoundly new way.

Space Training and Simulation

NASA + Sense Nova 2: NASA has integrated haptic gloves into virtual reality (VR) simulations to enhance astronaut training. By using the SenseGlove Nova 2, astronauts can experience tactile feedback when interacting with virtual tools and environments, simulating zero-gravity conditions. This approach allows for more immersive and cost-effective training sessions, reducing the need for expensive physical simulations.
ESA + SenseGlove: The European Space Agency employs VR haptic gloves to train astronauts in handling spacecraft components. This method helps in building muscle memory and improving skill retention, ensuring astronauts are better prepared for real-life missions.

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