Murata Manufacturing Acquires MIRAISENS to Advance Haptic Feedback in Remote Therapy

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on December 25, 2019, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a Japanese electronics manufacturer, had acquired MIRAISENS, Inc., a U.S. company specializing in technology transfer from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. The specific terms and financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Following the completion of this acquisition, Murata Manufacturing aims to combine its device design expertise in sensors and actuators with MIRAISENS’ 3D haptics technology to jointly develop products and services offering tactile experiences. In the medical field, Murata Manufacturing seeks to provide haptic feedback to patients undergoing remote treatment.

MIRAISENS, established on April 1, 2014, is headquartered in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, and specializes in the research and development of 3D haptics technology. As a pioneer in 3D haptics R&D, MIRAISENS leverages foundational neuroscience to continuously innovate and disseminate virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience technologies, thereby optimizing the tactile feedback and textural perception users encounter when interacting with devices.

MIRAISENS is developing 3D haptics technology based on “Illusionary Haptics*2,” the world’s first 3D haptics technology established by AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) on a neuroscience foundation. Illusionary Haptics*2 was first discovered by Norio Nakamura of AIST; it generates illusions in the human brain through cutaneous stimulation, enabling users to perceive texture and tactile sensations via devices.

Tsuneo Murata, Chairman and President of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., stated, “I believe that as communication technologies such as 5G continue to advance, there will be a growing need for experiences that are equivalent to human sensory perception. MIRAISENS’ 3D Haptics technology is an astonishing innovation capable of reproducing various cognitive experiences; it can convey the sensation of touch in a realistic manner amid the accelerating digitalization of society. I am delighted that we can combine MIRAISENS’ technology with the Murata Group’s expertise to create new value.”

In addition, Natsuo Koda, CEO of MIRAISENS, stated, “With strong hardware support from Murata Manufacturing, we can expand MIRAISENS’ 3D Haptics technology into various industrial sectors. As a member of the Murata Manufacturing group, I am highly anticipating significant innovations in the research and development of next-generation HMI (Human-Machine Interface) technologies.”

Previously, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. acquired Vios Medical in October 2017, aiming to expand its commercial scale in the healthcare market.

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was established on December 3, 1950, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. As a global integrated electronic component manufacturer, the company is dedicated to the development, production, and sales of ceramic-based electronic components. Focusing on automotive applications, energy management systems, and medical devices, Murata has established an end-to-end production system from raw materials to finished products, maintaining a leading position in the electronic components sector, particularly in miniaturization, high performance, and thin-form-factor technologies.

(Compiled by Yang Xiaohui)