PickNik and Haply Robotics Bring Haptic Precision to Robot Teleoperation

07 April 2025 | News

New integration of Inverse3 haptic controller with MoveIt Pro platform enables intuitive, high-fidelity remote robot control and real-time machine learning data capture.
Image Courtesy: Public Domain

Image Courtesy: Public Domain

PickNik Robotics is excited to announce a new partnership with Haply Robotics, bringing their highly responsive Inverse3 haptic controller into the MoveIt Pro developer platform. The result? A dramatically more intuitive and responsive way to interact with and teleoperate robotic arms—in all kinds of dynamic environments.

More Than Control—A Natural Interface for Teaching Robots

The Inverse3 is a lightweight, high-fidelity haptic device that lets operators directly manipulate robots while receiving real-time force feedback. This tactile interface doesn’t just make teleoperation feel more natural—it also opens new doors for machine learning.

Now, with MoveIt Pro and Inverse3 combined, developers can generate high-quality training data for robot learning pipelines—capturing real human motion trajectories, grasp strategies, and corrective behaviors in real time.

“We see haptics not just as a way to control robots, but as a way to teach them,” said Colin Gallacher, CEO of Haply Robotics. “By integrating Inverse3 with MoveIt Pro, developers can now gather training data with precision and intent. It’s a powerful tool for building intelligent, adaptive robotic systems.”

Remote Control that Feels Local

MoveIt Pro was built to give developers and operators robust tools for remote robot manipulation—whether over a local network, the open internet, or satellite links. With features like browser-based teleoperation, supervised autonomy, and integrated motion planning, it enables safe and efficient control even in constrained or high-latency environments.

With the addition of Inverse3, the experience gets a serious upgrade. Operators can now more easily control the robot’s interaction with the environment, adjust trajectories on the fly, and maintain tight control over complex tasks—no matter how far away the robot is.

“From the first time I tried the Inverse3, it was clear this controller had the potential to improve how humans provide teleop assistance to robots,” said Dr. Dave Coleman, Chief Product Officer at PickNik Robotics. “It’s incredibly intuitive, responsive, and a perfect match for our vision of human-in-the-loop autonomy. We’re thrilled to bring this to MoveIt Pro users.”

Purpose-Built for Real-World Challenges

Whether you’re operating robots for nuclear maintenance, orbital inspection, underwater infrastructure, or surgical R\&D, the combination of Inverse3 and MoveIt Pro is designed to handle the challenge:

  • Tactile Teleoperation: Real-time force feedback helps operators maintain precision in uncertain, dynamic environments.
  • Hybrid Autonomy: Use supervised autonomy to preview, adjust, and approve robotic decisions with the guidance of haptic input.
  • Effortless Deployment: No thick client or high-end workstation needed—run everything from a web browser, even over 4G, 5G, or low-bandwidth links.

A Smarter Way to Collaborate with Robots**

This partnership brings developers one step closer to a more intuitive, responsive, and teachable form of human-robot collaboration. By merging the physical feedback of the Inverse3 with the planning intelligence of MoveIt Pro, we’re giving users a powerful new interface for both controlling and training robotic systems.

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