Drake vs Carlton: A Practical Comparison for Wide-band Haptics

carlton vs drake

When you’re building a product around tactile feedback, the motor you pick shapes everything from industrial design to battery life. TITAN Haptics offers two series of wide‑band actuators, Drake and Carlton that overlap in capability yet excel in different scenarios. Use the matrix and examples below to zero‑in on the best fit for your next prototype or production run.

Criterion	DRAKE	Carlton	Why it matters
Physical envelope	9.5 × 23 mm	15.5 × 34 mm	Determines how much flexibility you have in the product’s industrial design.
Frequency range	10 – 300 Hz	10 – 300 Hz	Dictates response range and fidelity of the motor
Peak force (qualitative)	25 G 3.6 GRms	19 G 4.5 GRms	Drives user perception of realism and strength
Power draw	Lower; efficient for battery devices	Higher; best with external power or larger cells	Impacts battery size & thermal considerations
Tuning complexity	Firmware (Vector Haptics)	Firmware + mechanical (swap impact tips, adjust travel)	Influences range of tunability and time‑to‑market
Integration kits	TITAN Core Dev Kit	Carlton Dev Kit	Shortens prototype cycles
LMR Type	Various models (LF, LFi, MF, HF)	Low Frequency Impact (LFi)	Lets you choose between nuance or impact focus based on UX goals
Ingress protection	Full weathersealed	Openable / modifiable	Affects usability in harsh or variable environments

*Applications are illustrative, not exhaustive.

How to Choose a Motor

Both the Carlton and the Drake share TITAN’s Linear Magnetic Ram architecture, so you get the same spring-free build, 100M life cycle, and wideband haptic performance. The real decision comes down to four practical constraints you’ll meet in hardware, firmware, and power budgeting.

1. Size & mechanical fit

If your enclosure can spare little more than a smartphone vibration cavity, Drake’s 9.5 mm × 23 mm form factor drops in with minimal redesign. Carlton’s 15.5 mm × 34 mm package needs a bit more space, but allows for a punchier, more perceptible kick that smaller actuators simply can’t deliver.

The Drakes can also be joined and operated together as a clustered haptic array, providing higher output while avoiding the cost and lead time of a custom actuator.

2. Feel & frequency focus

Both motors can cover anything from 10-300 Hz, however:

The Drake motors come in four variants (LF, MF, HF, and LFi), each optimised for a particular band or impact nuance.
Carlton comes in a single, impact-oriented variant that excels at short, high-energy strikes.

If your UI relies on recoil, detents, or VR “hits,” Carlton’s fixed stroke delivers the most convincing jolt. The Drake LFi can approximate that effect when space or power must stay tight, but it won’t reach Carlton’s peak impulse simply due to its size.

3. Power budget

Battery-first products such as wearables benefit from Drake’s lighter coil and shorter stroke, which keep both average draw and inrush spikes low. Carlton fires a higher current pulse; fine for USB-powered gaming gear or 12 V automotive rails, but risky on a coin cell.

4. Tuning & iteration speed

With Drake, most of the personality lives in firmware: swap a waveform, change a gain, reflash, and you’ve effectively created a new actuator. Carlton in contrast, has a removable cap, and can be mechanically tuned by adding impact materials. Spare magnets can also configure the Carlton into a dual-array, which disables impact mode and makes it a non-impact actuator.

Take-aways

Pick Drake when space, battery life, or nuanced rumbles matter more than raw kick.
Pick Carlton when the experience hinges on a convincing strike or detent, even if it means a larger enclosure and higher current pulse.

Haptic Technology 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Different Types of Vibration Motors
The Art and Science of Haptics Integration
Why Haptics? Unveiling the Benefits and Applications of Haptic Technology
Haptic Technology 101: Common Haptic Terms Explained