The technology that powers today’s virtual reality (VR) headsets has become so affordable that you can get a fully immersive virtual experience for just a couple hundred dollars. That is unquestionably a major step forward compared to what was on offer even just a few years ago. But if you are one of the people who jumped on the VR bandwagon sometime after the metaverse hype started heating up, then you might have been a little disappointed the first time you donned your new headset.
The graphics, sound, and body tracking systems are all exceptional, yet with little more than some vibration motors (if that) to provide force feedback, the illusion of reality will be shattered the moment you try to interact with the virtual world. No worries, though. All you need to do is spend a few thousand more dollars so you can get a full-body haptic exosuit to render a wide variety of immersive kinesthetic forces. What’s that? You don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an accessory for your $300 headset? Well, in that case, you’re out of luck.
The hardware design (📷: V. Shen et al.)
But not anymore, according to a pair of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. They have developed what they call Kinethreads. It is a soft, full-body haptic exosuit that uses a string-based motor-pulley mechanism to render kinesthetic forces in a low-cost manner, all while keeping the suit light in weight and comfortable to wear.
Unlike traditional rigid exoskeletons, which are heavy, cumbersome, and prohibitively expensive, Kinethreads weighs in at less than five kilograms, can be put on in under 30 seconds, and costs only about $400 in parts. Despite its simplicity, the suit is capable of producing expressive kinesthetic effects of up to 120 newtons of force, as well as vibrotactile feedback at up to 200 hertz. In practical terms, that means users can feel everything from the pull of gravity to the shock wave of an explosion.
The exoskeleton consists of ten compact motorized reels mounted onto a lightweight tactical vest. These motors are strategically placed, eight around the waist and two elsewhere, to provide a wide range of directional forces. Strings extend from the reels to different points on the body, including the hands, legs, torso, and even the head. When the motors reel in or let out slack, they generate realistic tension and pulling forces that the body interprets as weight, resistance, or acceleration.
Strings are positioned around the body (📷: V. Shen et al.)
To maximize modularity, the researchers used two different motor sizes, balancing torque needs with weight and cost. The motors are coupled with encoders for precise position tracking and are controlled through custom PCBs linked to Adafruit QT Py microcontrollers and a Unity-based software stack. Together, this setup allows for real-time rendering of both subtle tactile sensations and powerful kinesthetic forces.
In testing, Kinethreads proved capable of simulating a wide range of scenarios: the heft of virtual objects, the pull of centripetal force while turning, the impact of explosions, and more. A user study confirmed that participants found the suit not only immersive but also surprisingly comfortable and easy to use, even for extended sessions.
With Kinethreads, the team has demonstrated that high-quality kinesthetic haptics don’t have to be out of reach for everyday VR enthusiasts. With smart hardware choices, consumer-grade components, and a lightweight design philosophy, they have opened the door to more accessible, realistic, and immersive virtual experiences in the future.
