Haply Beginnings: The Brains Behind the Touch Revolution

Colin Gallacher

Colin Gallacher, the President and Co-Founder of Haply Robotics, is a trailblazer in the field of haptics and robotics. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering from McGill University (2013-2015) and a graduate diploma in Computer Science from Concordia University (2017-2020). (Colin Gallacher)

Prior to founding Haply Robotics, Colin gained valuable experience in various roles:

• Research Associate at The University of British Columbia (2016-2017): Led development for a National Science Foundation project with Stanford University, focusing on accessible haptic tools.
• Technical Officer at National Research Council Canada (2016-2017): Worked on robotic instrumentation and medical device advancements.
• Summer Intern at Bombardier Aerospace (2012): Contributed to structural analysis of carbon fiber composites.

Yi (Steven) Ding

Steven completed his Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) in Electrical Engineering at McGill University in 2012 before continuing into his graduate studies. Steven contributed to medical technology as a Research Intern at the Auditory Mechanics Lab (2011), where he developed a computer-controlled pressure and vacuum generation system for middle ear measurements. Earlier in his career, he gained hands-on experience at Ecosol Solar Technologies (2007–2008), assisting in PCB repairs and prototype assembly. (Yi (Steven) Ding)

Felix Desourdy

Felix Desourdy is an accomplished engineer and innovator. He is the Co-Founder and Head of Mechanical Engineering at Haply Robotics. Prior to Haply Robotics, he worked as a Technical Officer at the National Research Council of Canada (2016–2018), where he was instrumental in manufacturing neurosurgical simulators such as NeuroVR. Felix holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the École de technologie supérieure (2011–2015), complemented by a technical diploma in mechanical engineering from Cegep du Vieux Montreal (2008–2011). (Felix Desourdy)

In 2018, after extensive research and development, the team launched Haply Robotics. Their goal was to make haptic technology more accessible and effective across various industries. The founders’ combined expertise in robotics, electronics, and manufacturing has been crucial to Haply’s success. 

Robots on the Rise: Feeling the Pulse of a Growing Industry

Haptic technology, which simulates the sense of touch through vibrations, forces, or motions, has become integral to modern electronic devices, enhancing user interactions across various applications. In 2022, the global haptic technology market was valued at approximately USD 2.75 billion. Projections indicate significant growth, with expectations to reach USD 7.31 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% during this period. (Fortune Business Insights)

This growth is largely driven by the widespread integration of haptic feedback in consumer electronics. These devices utilize haptic technology to provide tactile responses, enhancing user experiences by offering intuitive feedback during interactions. The gaming industry also significantly contributes to this expansion, employing haptic feedback in controllers and virtual reality systems to create immersive environments that simulate real-world sensations.

Despite its advantages, the high cost associated with advanced haptic systems, particularly those providing force feedback, poses challenges to broader adoption. These systems are more expensive than basic tactile feedback devices, which can limit their use in cost-sensitive applications. However, ongoing technological advancements and economies of scale are expected to reduce costs over time, facilitating wider implementation across various sectors.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific leads the market, accounting for approximately 28.72% of the global share in 2022. This dominance is attributed to the region’s robust consumer electronics manufacturing industry and the rapid adoption of advanced technologies. North America and Europe also represent significant markets, driven by technological innovations and high consumer demand for enhanced user experiences.

Touchy Subjects: What Drives Haply Robotics

Mission and Vision

Haply Robotics aims to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds by developing intuitive human-machine interfaces. Their mission is to create touch-enabled tools that allow users to navigate digital spaces as naturally as the physical world, using the nuanced language of movement and touch. (About Haply)

The company’s vision is to enhance human capabilities through technology, making the once impossible within reach. They strive to develop technology that communicates in the familiar cadences of human touch and movement, rather than the cold, alien tongues of machines.

Problems They Solve

Haply Robotics addresses several challenges across various industries. In medical training, their haptic devices simulate tactile sensations like cutting tissue or drilling into bone, allowing healthcare professionals to practice procedures in a realistic virtual environment. This enhances training effectiveness and reduces risks associated with real-life practice. In gaming and 3D design, their technology provides immersive experiences by enabling users to feel textures, resistances, and forces, thereby enhancing user engagement and interaction.

Business Model

The company’s business model focuses on designing and manufacturing haptic devices, such as the Inverse3 and the MinVerse 3D touch mouse. These products cater to sectors like medical training, gaming, and 3D design. Haply Robotics collaborates with global leaders in virtual reality simulation training and robotics to integrate their haptic technology into various applications. They also offer open-access APIs, encouraging a community of creators to enhance and integrate their technology into diverse applications, fostering a tech ecosystem that benefits everyone.

Handle with Care: Haply’s Game-Changing Products

Haply Robotics specializes in developing advanced haptic devices that integrate tactile feedback into digital interactions, enhancing user experiences across various applications. Their product lineup includes the Inverse3, MinVerse, and 2DIY, each designed to cater to specific user needs.

Inverse3

The Inverse3 is a game-changing haptic controller specifically designed to bridge the gap between virtual and physical interactions. It boasts exceptional precision with a 0.01mm resolution and a 4kHz refresh rate, ensuring realistic tactile feedback for users. This level of performance makes it indispensable in fields requiring intricate touch feedback, such as surgical simulations, dental practice training, and micro-manufacturing. (Inverse)

One of the key features of the Inverse3 is its portability. Unlike other bulky haptic devices, the Inverse3 is lightweight and compact, making it convenient for professionals working across multiple locations. Its quick plug-and-play setup and seamless calibration allow users to begin working within minutes.

The Inverse3 also supports multi-platform integration, including compatibility with popular programming languages, software, and game engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and ROS (Robot Operating System). This flexibility makes it ideal for use in immersive virtual reality (VR) training scenarios, industrial robotics, and autonomous systems. (haply.co)

MinVerse 3D Touch Mouse

The MinVerse is a revolutionary 3D touch mouse designed for creative professionals and developers working with 3D models, virtual environments, and interactive content. It combines the functionality of a mouse with advanced haptic feedback, allowing users to feel forces, weights, and textures within digital worlds. (Minverse)

The MinVerse enhances workflows in 3D modeling and animation software such as Blender and RoboDK. Designers can “feel” the weight or resistance of their objects while sculpting or animating, creating an unparalleled sense of immersion. Its ergonomic design ensures comfort during extended sessions, and its portability supports on-the-go usage.

A standout feature of the MinVerse is its open-access APIs, which allow developers to customize the device for specific applications. This encourages the creation of bespoke solutions tailored to gaming, virtual training, and educational platforms.

2DIY Development Kit

The 2DIY Development Kit is a modular and accessible solution for researchers and educators diving into the world of haptic technology. The kit includes components, detailed assembly instructions, and programming tools to enable users to design and experiment with haptic systems. It empowers users to explore haptic technology’s potential in fields like robotics, healthcare training, and interactive learning tools. (2DIY)

Touch Base: The Science Behind the Sensation

Haptic technology, often referred to as haptics, enables users to experience and interact with digital environments through the sense of touch. By simulating tactile sensations, haptics bridges the gap between the physical and virtual worlds, enhancing user engagement and realism in various applications.

Understanding Haptic Feedback

Haptic feedback involves the use of forces, vibrations, or motions to replicate the sense of touch. This feedback is categorized into two main types:

1. Tactile Feedback: This pertains to sensations detected by the skin, such as vibrations, textures, and temperature changes.
2. Kinesthetic Feedback: This relates to the perception of position and movement through muscles, tendons, and joints, providing information about force and motion.

By combining these feedback types, haptic technology delivers a comprehensive touch experience, allowing users to feel and manipulate virtual objects as if they were real.

Mechanisms Behind Haptic Technology

Haptic systems utilize various components to generate touch sensations:

• Sensors: These detect user interactions, such as touch, pressure, or movement, and relay this data to the system.
• Actuators: These devices produce physical responses like vibrations or movements based on input signals, creating the tactile sensations users feel.
• Control Systems: These process input data and manage actuator responses to ensure accurate and timely haptic feedback.

The primary principle involves generating electric currents that drive actuators to produce vibrations or forces, simulating the sense of touch. For instance, when a user touches a virtual object, sensors detect this action, and the control system activates actuators to provide corresponding tactile feedback, mimicking the feel of the object.

High-Five for Haply: Awards and Impact That Leave a Mark

In 2024, Haply Robotics expanded its product line with the MinVerse 3D touch mouse, designed to bring lifelike textures, forces, and immersive experiences to users’ fingertips. The MinVerse was honored with the CES® 2025 Innovation Awards ‘Best of Innovation’ title in the Metaverse category and an ‘Honoree’ title in the XR Technologies & Accessories category. The CES Innovation Awards, presented by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, annually recognize outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.  (Haply CES 2025)

In April 2024, Haply Robotics announced a partnership with BlackBerry QNX, renowned for its secure and reliable real-time operating systems. This collaboration integrates Haply’s Inverse3 haptic controller with BlackBerry’s QNX OS 8.0. (Haply)

Earlier, in March 2023, Haply Robotics partnered with FundamentalVR, a leader in immersive surgical training. This alliance focuses on transforming traditional surgical training methods through virtual reality. By integrating Haply’s portable and affordable haptic controllers, like the Inverse3, with FundamentalVR’s HapticVR™ technology, the partnership aims to enhance the realism and effectiveness of surgical simulations. (FundamentalVR)

Additionally, Haply Robotics has engaged in educational collaborations to advance haptic technology research. A notable example is the partnership with students from NMIMS University in Mumbai, India. Under the guidance of Professor Swarnalata Bollavarapu, students developed a plugin to integrate Haply’s Inverse 3D Mouse with Blender, a popular 3D modeling software. (NMIMS University)

Haply Robotics recently completed a $3.5 million USD seed funding round. The funding was spearheaded by BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund, known for investing in early-stage Canadian companies with groundbreaking innovations in robotics, AI, quantum, and other advanced technologies. (Tracxn)

A Feel-Good Ending: Haply’s Touch on Innovation and a Call to Action

Haply Robotics is redefining how we interact with technology. Their advanced haptic devices bring the sense of touch to virtual experiences. They make simulations and interactions more lifelike, intuitive, and precise. From medical training to gaming, Haply’s innovations improve learning, creativity, and user engagement. Their flagship products, such as the Inverse3 and MinVerse, are game-changers in their respective fields.

Haply Robotics’ devices integrate seamlessly with popular software platforms. Their tools are compatible with 3D modeling software like Blender and RoboDK, as well as game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine. Haply also provides open-access APIs, encouraging developers to build custom solutions. This flexibility allows users to adapt Haply’s technology to their specific needs, whether in medical training, gaming, or industrial applications.

Haply’s journey reminds us that innovation starts with a vision. If you have an idea, don’t wait. Research, build, and collaborate. The next big breakthrough might come from you. If Haply’s story inspires you, dive into other stories on Venture Kites. We share insights about startups, innovation, and technology trends.