Project Spotlight: Feelix Proof-of-Concept

When Thieab, the visionary founder behind Feelix, approached Fiddlie through the esteemed Oxford University Incubator, he had already embarked upon an ambitious journey. Feelix envisioned creating a revolutionary haptic touch glove designed to enhance immersive gaming experiences by providing tactile feedback directly to a user’s hands. While their initial prototype validated the concept, Feelix needed expert engineering assistance to bring the idea to the next level—a sophisticated, robust proof-of-concept prototype capable of precise, powerful feedback in real-time. They entrusted this critical next step to Fiddlie, confident in our proven expertise in prototyping, hardware, and software development tailored specifically for innovative startups.

Feelix’s core vision was clear yet technically challenging: a wearable glove that could apply finely controlled physical pressure across the hand to simulate realistic sensations within virtual environments. The glove had to deliver feedback via a precise array of actuators arranged across the palm and fingers, generating forces sufficient to convincingly mimic interactions ranging from gentle taps to firm grasps. Crucially, these interactions had to be updated rapidly—at least fifty times per second—to preserve realism and immersion.

Fiddlie’s first step was a thorough examination of Feelix’s original prototype. While the initial design successfully demonstrated the basic concept, it had significant limitations in actuator force, responsiveness, and the finesse of tactile feedback. The earlier actuators, off-the-shelf components chosen for rapid iteration, proved insufficient for delivering the level of nuanced tactile realism Feelix required. Recognising these constraints, Fiddlie’s engineering team recommended moving away from standard actuators toward a custom-designed solution.

Fiddlie’s expert mechanical and electronics teams collaborated closely to conceptualise a bespoke actuator setup tailored explicitly for the glove’s demanding performance criteria. After detailed analysis and simulation, we determined that solenoid-based actuators would provide the ideal balance between power, precision, and compactness necessary for comfortable wearability. Our approach involved designing custom miniaturised solenoids specifically engineered to deliver up to 20 Newtons of force each—sufficient to convincingly replicate diverse tactile sensations.

Achieving this impressive level of force in such a compact wearable format posed significant design challenges. Fiddlie’s engineers optimised every aspect of the solenoid design—from coil geometry and materials selection to magnetic efficiency—to maximise the actuator force while minimising heat and energy consumption. Simulations and rapid prototyping iterations allowed us to refine our designs quickly, achieving the precise specifications needed for Feelix’s groundbreaking concept.

Simultaneously, our hardware team developed a lightweight yet rigid structural framework to comfortably integrate the custom actuators into the glove without hindering user mobility or comfort. Ergonomics were crucial: each actuator needed to exert pressure effectively without causing discomfort during extended periods of use. Through rigorous testing and iterative design improvements, we engineered a flexible, durable fabric-integrated frame to evenly distribute forces across the hand, achieving an optimal balance between flexibility and structural integrity.

On the electronics front, precision control was equally critical. Each solenoid actuator required rapid activation and deactivation, accurately timed to game events with millisecond-level precision. Our embedded systems specialists developed a bespoke printed circuit board (PCB) featuring an array of ultra-responsive actuator drivers, microcontrollers, and power management components to manage high currents and rapid switching safely and reliably. The PCB was carefully integrated into the glove, minimally impacting size and weight while ensuring robustness during intense gaming sessions.

Fiddlie also developed advanced firmware to precisely manage actuator timing and intensity. Our custom software ensured each actuator could be controlled independently, enabling Feelix’s glove to replicate complex, realistic tactile patterns dynamically. The system updated feedback to users at an impressive rate of fifty times per second, ensuring an immersive, real-time experience indistinguishable from real-world interactions. The rapid update speed was crucial for maintaining seamless synchronisation with gameplay visuals and audio, reinforcing the realism and immersion central to Feelix’s vision.

Throughout the development process, Fiddlie maintained constant collaboration with Thieab and the Feelix team. Regular feedback sessions, agile development cycles, and proactive communication ensured that each design iteration met or exceeded Feelix’s evolving requirements and expectations. Fiddlie’s transparent fixed-quote pricing approach provided Feelix with budget certainty, crucial for effective planning and decision-making as the project progressed.

The culmination of Fiddlie’s efforts was an advanced, highly functional proof-of-concept prototype of the Feelix haptic touch glove that exceeded initial expectations. Our customised actuator solution successfully delivered the precise, powerful tactile feedback Feelix envisioned, dramatically enhancing the immersive gaming experience. Initial user testing demonstrated overwhelmingly positive feedback, with users noting remarkable improvements in immersion, realism, and enjoyment compared to traditional gaming peripherals.

Feelix’s collaboration with Fiddlie exemplifies our unique capability to tackle challenging, groundbreaking technology developments for ambitious startups. By leveraging bespoke hardware solutions, precision electronics, and robust firmware, we turned Feelix’s innovative vision into tangible reality. The success of this collaboration not only validated Feelix’s pioneering haptic technology but also solidified Fiddlie’s reputation as an essential partner for startups requiring expert guidance and innovative engineering solutions to bring their visionary ideas to market.