Master’s in Haptic Engineering and Tangible Controls
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in haptics and tangible controls engineering, structured in 12 modules covering tactile perception, haptic actuators, tangible and mechanical controls, smart surfaces, haptic effect design, automotive haptics, force feedback, accessibility, haptic evaluation, electronics and firmware, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the tactile perception mechanisms that are relevant to design.
Select haptic actuators according to response, power consumption and cost.
Design mechanical controls with controlled force curves and sound.
Develop smart surfaces with hidden buttons and haptic feedback.
Create libraries of haptic effects that are consistent with the brand.
Evaluate controls using psychophysical methods and objective measurement.
Integrate haptic electronics and firmware into industrial products.
Who it's for
- Haptics engineers looking to deepen their expertise in haptic and tangible control design.
- Designers of controls and tangible interfaces.
- Engineers working on controls and smart surfaces.
- Perceived quality specialists.
- Haptic firmware developers.
- Researchers in tactile interaction.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- ISO 9241-910:2011 (framework for tactile and haptic interactions)
- ISO 9241-920:2009 (guidance on tactile and haptic interactions)
- ISO 9241-940:2017 (evaluation of tactile and haptic interactions)
- IEC 60068-2-6 (environmental testing: sinusoidal vibration)
- EN 301 549 (accessibility requirements for ICT products and services)
- ISO 26262:2018 (functional safety of road vehicles)
- ISO 23599:2019 (tactile walking surface indicators for blind and visually impaired people)
- MATLAB and Simulink
- Interhaptics Haptic Composer
- LabVIEW
- Altium Designer
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Mechanoreceptors and cutaneous sensitivity1.2Vibration thresholds by frequency1.3Force perception and proprioception1.4Two-point spatial discrimination1.5Perception of textures and roughness1.6Thermal perception in touch1.7Individual differences and age1.8Weber's law applied to haptics1.9Tactile memory and learning1.10Laboratory: vibrotactile thresholds with volunteers
2.1ERM eccentric rotating mass motors2.2LRA linear resonant actuators2.3High-response piezoelectric actuators2.4Moving-coil electromagnetic actuators2.5Electroadhesion and variable friction2.6Mid-air ultrasonic haptics2.7Actuator drivers and control2.8Power consumption and time response2.9Actuator selection by application2.10Practical exercise: characterisation of an LRA actuator
3.1Push buttons and force-travel curves3.2Rotary knobs and detents3.3Levers, joysticks and selectors3.4Switches and steering wheel satellite controls3.5Perceived mechanical quality3.6Springs, cams and damping3.7Control noise and click3.8Durability and life cycles3.9Tolerances and production variability3.10Workshop: designing the force curve of a push button
4.1Self and mutual capacitive sensing4.2Force and pressure detection4.3Seamless surfaces with hidden buttons4.4In-mould electronics (IME)4.5Haptic feedback on displays4.6Preventing accidental activation4.7Use with gloves and moisture4.8Illumination of hidden symbols4.9Integration into wood and textiles4.10Laboratory: capacitive button with piezo haptics
5.1Haptic vocabulary and patterns5.2Amplitude, frequency and envelope of the effect5.3Tactile icons or tactons5.4Haptics for action confirmation5.5Virtual textures on surfaces5.6Synchronisation between audio and haptics5.7Reusable effect libraries5.8Brand consistency in haptics5.9Effect composition tools5.10Practical exercise: haptic library for an infotainment system
6.1Steering wheel with vibration warnings6.2Haptic seats for alerts6.3Active accelerator pedal6.4Tangible climate controls6.5The return of physical buttons to the cabin6.6Euro NCAP and physical controls6.7Haptics in automated driving6.8By-wire gear selectors6.9Haptic surfaces on the centre console6.10Case study: lane departure warning on the steering wheel
7.1Force feedback devices7.2Impedance and admittance control7.3Stability and passivity of the haptic loop7.4Transparency in teleoperation7.5Haptics in robotic surgery7.6Haptic gloves and exoskeletons7.7Force-feedback training simulators7.8Network latency and compensation7.9Steering feel in steer-by-wire7.10Laboratory: impedance control on a haptic device
8.1Haptics for blind people8.2Dynamic Braille and touch screens8.3Tactile walking surface indicators ISO 235998.4Older users and reduced dexterity8.5Controls for people with motor disabilities8.6Use with gloves and low temperatures8.7Universal design of controls8.8EN 301 549 accessibility requirements8.9Testing with diverse users8.10Case study: accessible household appliance panel
9.1Measurement of force-travel curves9.2Accelerometers and vibration measurement9.3Durability and ageing tests9.4Staircase and constant-stimuli psychophysical methods9.5Perceived quality scales9.6Benchmarking of competitors' controls9.7Correlation between objective and subjective measurement9.8Design of haptic experiments9.9Statistical preference models9.10Practical exercise: benchmarking of rotary controls
10.1Microcontrollers and dedicated drivers10.2Haptic control firmware10.3Integration into CAN and LIN buses10.4Full-system latency10.5Electromagnetic compatibility of actuators10.6Functional safety of controls10.7Haptic APIs on Android10.8Hardware-in-the-loop testing of controls10.9Thermal management of piezo actuators10.10Laboratory: haptic firmware on a microcontroller
11.1Haptics in smartphones and watches11.2Game controllers with adaptive triggers11.3Virtual reality with haptic gloves11.4Premium household appliance panels11.5Medical devices with tactile feedback11.6Force joysticks in industrial machinery11.7Active controls in aviation cockpits11.8Haptic patents and intellectual property11.9Costs and industrial scale-up11.10Workshop: haptic concept for a consumer product
12.1Definition of the haptic use case12.2Preliminary perceptual study12.3Selection of technology and actuators12.4Design of the functional prototype12.5Design of effects and patterns12.6Perceptual evaluation with users12.7Statistical analysis of results12.8Specification for industrialisation12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB and Simulink, Interhaptics Haptic Composer, LabVIEW and Altium Designer, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: bench measurement of force-travel curves, psychophysical studies with volunteers and benchmarking of competitors' controls. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 9241-910:2011, ISO 9241-920:2009, ISO 9241-940:2017, IEC 60068-2-6, EN 301 549, ISO 26262:2018 and ISO 23599:2019.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MATLAB and Simulink, Interhaptics Haptic Composer, LabVIEW and Altium Designer, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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