Dror Ortho-Design Profile
Dror Ortho-Design, Inc. engages in the development and sale of 3D haptics products and equipment.
The company derives revenue primarily from the sale to customers of the consumer Falcon product, and the associated 'grips,' or handles that are shaped to mirror the application simulated by the Falcon product (e.g., a gun handle, a sword handle, or a steering wheel) and the sale or license of specially enabled computer games designed to be used with the Falcon.
Principal Products - Falcon
The Falcon is an extensible, grounded (e.g., desktop), three-dimensional (3D) haptic interaction device. It is a compact robotic device with characteristics optimized for real-time force-feedback and tactile interaction. The Falcon was specifically developed for consumer applications with an emphasis on interactive gaming. The Falcon was designed to be used for both PC and console gaming. All that is required to interface to the device is some form of serial interface (wired or wireless). the company has also created in-lab prototypes of the Falcon that would be directly connected to gaming consoles. Additionally, the performance characteristics of the Falcon device are such that it has seen some wider application in fields, such as education, medicine, scientific visualization, robotics and tele-robotics.
The consumer version of the Falcon consists of the Main Unit, a Stand and a 'Grip' or end effector. The Main Unit is capable of generating high-fidelity, high-bandwidth, 3D forces and accurately sensing 3D position in real-time within its working envelope. The Main Unit has on-board computational capabilities and is programmed by and communicates with a host computer or system via a bi-directional USB communication interface. It is typically powered using an external DC power supply.
The Main Unit has a modular, quick connect/disconnect, electromechanical interface (i.e., the Grip Interface) that allows various grips to be mounted to it. This interface allows a grip to be mechanically connected to the Main Unit and provides electrical power and communication with the grip. When the Falcon is utilized as a haptic interaction device, it is the grip that the end-user actually grasps and uses to interact with the device.
The Grips themselves have arbitrary shapes and functions. A Grip simply has to adhere to the mechanical and electrical constraints of the Grip Interface. Grips typically use on-board computational elements to report their state to the Main Unit via the serial communication channel of the Grip Interface. Two typical consumer grips are a general-purpose spherical interface and a pistol shaped grip typically used for game play and interaction. These grips have various buttons and communicate their identity, as well as button state via the Grip Interface to the Main Unit. The Main Unit is modularly mounted on a Stand. Consumer units are typically shipped with a 'U' stand. The Falcon Main Unit can be mounted, however, on any stand or object that provides the appropriate mechanical interface and fasteners.
The Falcon communicates with a host computer or system via a bi-directional USB communication interface at a 1 KHz data rate. Drivers and APIs/SDKs on the host side allow haptic interaction to be incorporated or added to various applications across various markets.
Subsequent to the introduction of the consumer Falcon haptic interface device, there have been a variety of improvements, features and options to the design of the device, which the company has implemented on a limited number of units for specific customers. Other significant changes have been designed for the device as product improvements or model variations. These changes to the device design have not yet made it to the consumer version of the device but could do so given appropriate funding, timing and markets. For example, the capstan cable drive mechanism for the Falcon utilizes a single spring tensioner. Under high-speed motions, this approach results in unequal cable tension between the cable on one side of the capstan and the other, potentially leading to slippage of the cable relative to the capstan when motor direction is abruptly reversed after a high-speed run. A drive system that helps guarantee balanced cable tension is one of the pre-planned product improvements for the Falcon. The consumer Falcon utilizes a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), and other electronics elements to implement the Falcon's processing and communication system. Significant effort has been undertaken in designs where an ASIC is used for a major portion of these processing and communication requirements.
There are other areas of potential improvement to the Falcon. The consumer Falcon is relatively compact compared to other arm mechanisms. The radial twist employed in the 'arm' design decreases the radial cross section of the device. Physical layout of the electronics is also optimized to decrease size. In addition, the U-shaped base helps to decrease the apparent size of the device. Nonetheless, further decreasing the apparent and real volume of the device is desirable for increased consumer acceptance. It also provides significant additional shape, color and opacity options to the appearance of the Falcon Main Unit, including clear plastic options where the internal mechanisms and electronics are visible.
The company has made several custom variations to the Falcon for specific customers and use cases. As part of its custom efforts, the company has developed improved control algorithms for the Falcon Main Unit that allow higher peak forces to be generated or lower forces to be maintained for longer periods of time. These developments are embodied in custom units referred to as 'Super Falcons'. Fundamentally, these improvements involve changes to the timing and pulse-width modulation motor control used in the control algorithms run on the Falcon Main Unit's DSP. No changes to Falcon hardware are required. This allows a 'Super Falcon' to be sold to consumers when appropriate. In addition, several fundamentally new Grip designs for the Falcon have been developed for custom customer applications. Consumer versions of these designs are possible.
In addition to the Falcon device, the company has developed and sold software and demonstrations for all gaming genres, including Action, Adventure, Fighting, Racing, Simulation, Sport, Strategy, Parlor, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) and Miscellaneous (e.g., board games, pinball). Also, the company has created a number of haptically enabled software applications that allow the Falcon to be utilized for many non-gaming uses. For example, the company has developed medical simulation software for various injection procedures, including Epidural injections, Synvisc injection, Depo-Medrol injection and other injections. The company has also developed software applications that allow a user to feel, as well as see medical data. For example, CT Scan data can be probed using the Falcon, and the difference between soft tissue and bone can be felt. The company's medical applications have typically been used both for medical marketing and procedure familiarization or training. In addition, the company has developed specific software for marketing purposes that works with the Falcon. For example, the company modified a game for Anheuser-Busch to use during its on-site marketing campaigns. The company has also developed software applications where a Falcon's motion is controlled via software or in real time using another (remote) Falcon.
History
The company was incorporated in the state of New Mexico in 1999 and changed its state of incorporation to Delaware in 2002. It was formerly known as Novint Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Dror Ortho-Design, Inc. in 2023.
