Ground breaking mid-air haptics, ready to scale

Posted; January 3, 2025

For over a decade Ultraleap has pioneered mid-air haptic technology to break down the barriers between the physical and digital worlds.
Today we are launching a new, full-stack, reference design that empowers innovators to create world leading haptic experiences.

This new solution introduces our next-generation transducers, advanced drivers and comprehensive product integration guidance, making scalable production easier and more cost effective than ever before, while delivering even more impressive performance.

World-leading Transducers

The size and cost of mid-air haptics systems have long been the primary blocker to large-scale adoption. The transducers, which project the ultrasound to create a haptic effect, are the biggest and most expensive component in this system. After 7 years for R&D we reached a major milestone in 2022 with the launch of our first-generation transducer, designed specifically for mid-air haptics.

We are now announcing our second-generation, which sets a new benchmark for size, cost and performance. Its surface area is 50% smaller than that of existing production solutions and, at just 1.5mm in height, it delivers an 80% reduction in volume. Despite this compact size, it achieves 30% higher pressure output. All of this in a surface mount package allowing mass production with standard automated processes.

Best in Class Transducer Driver

Behind the transducers sits our bespoke designed 16-channel transducer driver, which is now in production. With built-in intelligence for product reliability and its superior signal-to-noise it easily outperforms any other available solution, resulting in smoother haptic sensations. All delivered in a package that achieves a 50% reduction in cost per channel.

Simplified Software Architecture

We've taken over a decade of engineering development and condensed it into a single, simple-to-use FPGA ready for production scale-up, dramatically reducing design complexity and thereby accelerating integration timescales, alongside significantly reduced BoM cost.

Applications: UI is going spatial

Mid-air haptics are revolutionising user interfaces in multiple applications. One example is biometric palm readers, which are the forefront of authentication and verification. Mid-air haptics adds intuitive guidance and clear confirmation feedback, critical for seamless adoption and high success rates.

In automotive, as autonomous vehicles become commonplace and the windshield becomes a key display through advanced HUD technology, interaction is evolving to be spatial. Mid-air haptics enable confident and safe control of content at distance with focus still on the roadway, unlocking the full potential of this new interaction paradigm.

Beyond these applications, the sense of touch is essential for true immersion in XR. From accessibility to medical training and therapeutic treatments, the possibilities are transformative.

Contact us

If you would like to discuss your application for the reference design, please complete this form.

Ultraleap will be visiting CES 2025 with a full suite of demos, held from January 7–11, 2025. Get in touch to schedule a meeting or demo.

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About Ultraleap

Ultraleap’s world-leading hand tracking and mid-air haptic technologies have been developed over 10 years using machine learning and computer vision to allow you to naturally engage with the digital world using only your hands. No controllers. No touchscreens. No keypads. From enhancing 2D screens to developing fully immersive 3D experiences, Ultraleap powers natural, safe and effortless digital interaction in the increasingly connected world.