‘Blended orgasm’ toy gets $1.1m grant via US robotics lab partnership

Updated November 20, 2018

Published November 20, 2018

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Ever had a blended orgasm? Confused about what a blended orgasm is? Women can achieve this intense experience through combining stimulation of the clitoris, vagina, G-spot, A-spot… the list goes on and on.

Now, a new micro-robotic sexual stimulator for “hands-free blended orgasms” is currently being developed by Oregon sextech start-up Lora DiCarlo. Working in partnership with Oregon State University researchers, the predominantly female engineering team at Lora DiCarlo used biomimicry to translate human mouth, tongue, and finger-like haptics into micro-robotic mechanisms that feel like a human partner.

The firm raised seed funding for an industry-sponsored research and engineering partnership with the Oregon State University College of Engineering, one of the US’ four leading robotics laboratories. It has now been backed with a $1.1 million grant for research, engineering, and product development from the Oregon Opportunity Zone Limited Partnership (OOZLP).

“Working on a product that celebrates people’s sexual health has been an incredibly fulfilling and exciting engineering problem,” said Dr. Ada-Rhodes Short, senior design engineer at Lora DiCarlo. “Our engineering team is on the cutting edge of robotic pleasure tech – we have already filed five patents and we are well positioned to become the universal physical interface for women, trans men, genderqueer and non-conforming people with vaginas engaging in virtual reality sex. We are creating something truly breathtaking and new at Lora DiCarlo and we are so excited to share it with the world.”

The funding from OOZLP will support product development, intellectual property protection, and a full unveiling of Osé at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2019.

After three years of research looking at anatomical data of women’s bodies and physiological analysis of female orgasms, Lora DiCarlo’s founder, Lora Haddock, realized that a hands-free ‘pleasure tech’ product would require use of new technology that had only recently become available.

“It has been a long-time dream of mine to empower folks to explore their individual sexual identities and to offer a disruptive product like Osé to the market; a product that finally addresses our physiology as well as the positive changes in the societal view on sexuality and gender,” said Haddock. “I’m extremely grateful for the OOZLP funding as it will allow us to hire the finest engineering and marketing talent possible to make Osé commercially viable.”

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Tara

Tara Lepore’s expertise and writing prowess have been showcased through her contributions to respected publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Vice, and Gizmodo. Her insightful articles within these outlets have provided readers with an in-depth understanding of the intricate connection between sex and technology.Tara’s ability to deliver well-researched and thought-provoking content has made her a valuable contributor in the field, capturing the attention of a wide audience and leaving a lasting impact. Her writing style effortlessly combines expert knowledge with a relatable and engaging tone, making complex topics accessible to all.Through her work, Tara Lepore continues to enlighten readers and shape the conversation on the ever-evolving landscape of sex and technology.

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