Hero Arm - turning disabilities into superpowers
by Startacus Admin
Open Bionics, the Bristol-based robotics startup focused on creating fully functional bionic arms, launches Hero Arm, a 3D-printed, affordable multi-grip bionic arm.
Open Bionics is a Bristol-based tech for good startup focused on creating fully functional bionic arms for people with below-elbow amputations or limb differences. The award-winning startup is dedicated to making these cutting-edge bionics affordable, as so many currently-available prostheses and bionic hands are either non- or semi-function, or extremely expensive.
By making their work open source, they are allowing others to take it and evolve it in their own ways. Recently, for example, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in the USA, developed an ultrasound attachment for an Open Bionics hand that actually allows lower-arm amputee Jason Barnes to play the piano!
Launched on 25 April, Hero Arm is the culmination of several years’ work: an affordable, custom-built, multi-grip bionic arm available for people as young as 9.
The affordability comes from the idea to 3D print the pieces, which is a world first. In order to help children, in particular, love their bionic arms more, Open Bionics is working with Disney to create Hero Arm covers (the outer shell of the arm) from Star Wars, Marvel, and Frozen.
The first one they created was from their work with video game publisher Eidos Montreal to create an arm based on the popular game Deus Ex: Human Revolution, in which the main character has multiple bionic prosthetics.
During their short time in business, Open Bionics has picked up a Wired Social Innovation Award, a James Dyson Award for Engineering, and even a Guinness World Record. It was the $1m UAE AI & Robotics International Award for Good that gave them the push to finish work on, and make available, the Hero Arm.
From here, Open Bionics will be working to expand their range of products and begin to look at other kind of amputations and limb differences that they can help with.
Open Bionics, we're really loving your work!
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Published on: 29th April 2018
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