Researchers tout progress with maglev joystick, aim to bring it to market

Maglev technology may be best know for its use in trains (and the odd wind turbine), but a group of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University's Ralph Hollis have some ideas of their own for it, with them now touting a so-called "maglev joystick" that they hope to bring to market. That, they say, can provide increased feedback compared to a standard joystick, and offer an alternative to complicated gloves and robotic interfaces. Key to that, obviously, is a whole bunch of electromagnets, which are concealed in the bowl pictured above and allow the "joystick" to levitate, while also providing resistance when it's moved in any direction. Needless to say, there's no indication as to when the joystick might actually be available, but Hollis has recently formed a company, Butterfly Haptics, with just that as its goal, and it'll apparently soon be shipping six of the joysticks to a consortium of US and Canadian universities for testing.

[DssTrainer @ Mar 5th 2008 2:07PM]

First!. But what is it? a magnet joystick? Seems a bit big!

[asphixiated @ Mar 5th 2008 3:51PM]

just for your stupid comment: your \mom\ seems a bit big

[DssTrainer @ Mar 5th 2008 5:24PM]

ooo burn! But really the picture doesn't do it justice.. some kind of magnet reed based on the dragging direction? what happens if the magnet slams down or pulls completely away

[Hraefn @ Mar 6th 2008 2:20AM]

Google "maglev technology" and read up on it before commenting again. At least that way you'll sound less stupid than you probably are.

[DssTrainer @ Mar 6th 2008 7:28AM]

sniff... you guys are mean.

[eggothewaffle @ Mar 5th 2008 2:10PM]

But can it lev-I mean, love?

[Paul @ Mar 5th 2008 2:18PM]

This seems like it would be amazing for 3d artists.

I know they already make "Spaceballs" or whatever they are called but the one time I used one I found it pretty un-intuitive to use.

This on the other hand, could be amazing. Move the "Joystick" part in any direction, side to side, forward back to pan, then as you roll or turn the "Joystick" in any direction it proportionally turns the 3d item.

I have no idea what i would use this for, but I want it.

[CDNDave @ Mar 5th 2008 2:20PM]

Make sure you take off your watch before you use it...

[BioWare #1 @ Mar 5th 2008 2:26PM]

Hm... can't wait for the first Unreal/Quake/Team Fortress PC gamer to start bragging about how superior their mag-lev stick is to the keyboard and mouse combo.

[Kurian @ Mar 5th 2008 2:25PM]

I'd rather use a 20bit analog stick than a magnet thing which probably cant snap back to center when released.

[Joseph @ Mar 5th 2008 2:27PM]

Hand tumors?

[Glancing Aft @ Mar 5th 2008 2:39PM]

my first thought exactly.

[Rocketboy @ Mar 5th 2008 2:30PM]

New Wii controller, here we come!

[Scott Stevenson @ Mar 5th 2008 2:37PM]

Related videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/turunda

Specifically:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXdWqZVTHMQ

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isu7r3Ywqp0

-Scott

[owl @ Mar 5th 2008 3:00PM]

This sounds like a great idea. I mean, what possibly could go wrong with having powerful magnets next to your computer?

[barrywoods @ Mar 5th 2008 3:14PM]

You mean like the ones inside you hard drive?

[RDW @ Mar 5th 2008 2:44PM]

Hmmm, I'm wondering what it does to your...

iPod
USB Thumb Drive
Hard Drive
Computer
Monitor
Hand
Heart Pacemaker
...

Sounds "cool", but when you think about it - it must be useful for a very specialize set of applications only. I can see this being made "generally available", and everyone and their uncle sues the maker for breaking everything electronic within 10 feet of the thing.

[Earl Jr. @ Mar 5th 2008 4:14PM]

And that is when we apply the inverse square law to bring people abruptly back to reality.

[Philippe @ Mar 5th 2008 2:48PM]

Double up as a convenient hard drive eraser/formatter.

[GregL @ Mar 5th 2008 2:56PM]

Wonder how much power this thing would draw....don't really think anyone wants to shell out $500 a month in electricity for a joystick.

[PGP-Protector @ Mar 5th 2008 2:57PM]

I can just see the tech support calls.

Hello Maglev, I got your product, and now my computer keeps saying Boot Sector not found when I turn it on even after unpluging your joystick.

[Stop!! @ Mar 5th 2008 3:15PM]

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to a day when EVERY Engadget post will feature the phrase "needless to say." We're nearly there!

[mrpoo @ Mar 5th 2008 3:24PM]

And when you get a power spike, the electromagnets errantly shoot the joystick through your head at Mach 3 like a USB railgun. Anything with electromagnets strong enough to give the haptic feedback they claim has way too much potential for damage. No thanks.

[bigdoggie @ Mar 5th 2008 5:13PM]

Magnets of this strenght does not do any direct damage to you hand. It would require really, really powerfull magnets to damage your hand.

Kthx.

[highjumpman @ Mar 5th 2008 5:37PM]

Sooner or later someone will nick the joystick. At least they should attach a little metal chain ... WHOOPS!
Wonder what happens if you forget to take off your wristwatch...

[wickedpheonix @ Mar 5th 2008 6:27PM]

Please everyone, google the Novint Falcon. It's here today, will do the same thing, doesn't require magnets, has interchangeable grips, and will probably cost less.

[Carl Vitullo @ Mar 5th 2008 7:09PM]

i can't wait until that gets cheap enough for normal people to buy.

[kal326 @ Mar 6th 2008 10:27AM]

Seems a bit big to be sitting on your desk doesn't it? Not to mention the possibility of a malfunction on the device turning into a railgun. I mean if Nintendo has to issue 3 differant versions of a wrist strap to keep people from putting Wiimotes through there TVs, just imagine the problems that this would present.