News

Haptikos Unveils Hand Exoskeleton for Immersive Virtual Experiences

• By John K. Waters
• 01/27/2025

Haptikos, a startup specializing in lifelike touch-based spatial technology, introduced its flagship hand exoskeleton at the MIT Reality Hack 2025. Based in Sunnyvale, California, and Athens, Greece, Haptikos came out of stealth at the event.

Designed to bring realism to virtual interactions with haptic responses, the exoskeleton works with extended reality (XR) devices, enabling users to feel the distinct sensations of virtual materials, from smooth surfaces to intricate textures. The device provides 24 degrees of freedom (DoF) per hand and sub-millimeter motion accuracy, the company says, which makes it possible to deliver "tactile realism" and capture subtle hand gestures. The device offers an eight-hour battery life and ergonomic that's different from typically glove-based devices that often lack precision.

"Our exoskeleton fits every hand perfectly, offering unmatched accuracy and usability at a fraction of the cost of competitors," said Greg Agriopoulos, CEO and co-founder of Haptikos, in a statement. "Coupled with our proprietary software, it’s the first truly comprehensive haptic solution for XR."

Each Haptikos device is equipped with tracking, haptic, and (soon-to-be-released) kinaesthetic sensors, designed to ensure smooth and intuitive motion control. Its boasts sub-millisecond response times—12 ms rise and 55 ms fall—which the company says makes every touch feel immediate and lifelike.

The Haptikos "experience" is powered by haptik_OS, an application that integrates seamlessly with Unity’s Software Development Kit (SDK). Haptik_OS supports AI-driven tools that adapt pre-built libraries into new haptic XR applications, making the platform developer-friendly. The software is available in three tiers: Freemium for basic exploration, Basic for SDK integration, and Pro for advanced AI customization.

"Haptics have long been an overlooked component of XR solutions," said Maria Rice, Executive Director of MIT Reality Hack, in a statement. "Haptikos combines advanced haptics, an intuitive operating system, and AI tools, offering developers a groundbreaking way to create lifelike, immersive experiences."

Dr. Aoife McEvoy of the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin praised the devices utility for teaching complex procedures, such as the "postpartum balloon procedure."

 "The realistic tactile feedback and precise control provided by Haptikos have significantly improved procedural skills and trainee confidence,” she said in a statement.

The exoskeleton’s potential also extends to design, gaming, and other XR applications, because of its ability to deliver fluid and intuitive interaction with virtual environments.

"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, in a statement. "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."