Lightweight robot arm connects to your wheelchair, stoops in your stead (video)
By Sean Hollister 
posted August 1st 2010 10:10AM
posted August 1st 2010 10:10AM
posted August 1st 2010 10:10AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Is it really THAT hard to invent something like that?
Doesn't look like rocket science... we can fly RC helicopters indoors, but that thing is special? O.o
@Kaboof Also, what an ugly remote control? How about mounting a Wiimote or PS3/Xbox controller to that thing? Cheaper, easier to replace and I bet that remote would get owned by all three of them in terms of precision etc...
@Kaboof
i was thinking the same thing...
i don't mean to be an armchair critic but it's a little "slow"... sounds like it's low on batteries!!
@Kaboof
Are you an engineer? Do you have even the slightest understanding of how difficult it is to develop a piece of technology from scratch in a market that has a very small consumer base? How good are you at developing embedded systems, not to mention motor control and mechanical? This technology it surely needed by some people in the world, and there isn't much or anything like this for those people, so yeah, it's special.
Also, you liken this to flying an RC helicopter indoors, even going as far as to imply it is less impressive. How is using servos to slightly change the angle of a rotor even remotely as impressive as operating an articulated limb with merely a thumb? Can you explain that to me?
Furthermore, did you ever consider the fact that the target user for this device is obviously going to have a lack of fine motor skills. They may barely be able to move their thumbs, so no, a console controller is not a better solution.
Obviously this isn't the most cutting edge piece of technology that has hit engadget, but I'm glad they posted it. I don't actually know anyone who would need it, but I know they exist. Think a little bit before you post; and before you insult a team of engineers along with the device they probably spent about a year developing.
@otherman It's a robotic arm with a remote control. Such technology has been available to consumers since the Hero 1 back in 1979.
Just because a forum poster can't design and build one, doesn't mean it would be a particularly impressive feat for a robotic engineer.
@nrb
I Agree...
I addition is hard to picture someone with a upper limb disability (that would need a machine like that) capable to perform such a complex movements with the thumb to operate the remote control....
If it mounted from the back of the chair that would be awesome. From the side as it is now, it would be very difficult to maneuver through door ways :( I would love to have one of those
@Buttabean I was going to say the same thing. I am friends with a few wheel using folk and that's all they need, another thing that make it that much more difficult to get a wheel chair through a door or into a vehicle.
Great concept, but needs way more think through on execution.
I do like the idea of it being able to flex and retract back into the tube at the bottom, but the side mount as is has to go. Maybe mounting it horizontally so they could bring it in above the arm rest area.
um robotic arm for people with upper body disability .. but you control it with your hand ... doesn't seem very "breakthrough" or practical, if you can use you hand good enough to control it, seems like you wouldn't need it.
@SirDubs What happens if your TV's remote control falls down? I don't know exactly (thankfully) but I can imagine it could be hard to get it up. Also I think its annoying to have to drive around for every little thing (like glass of water) so I could imagine a use for it... especially for older people. But the execution seems so pre-2000...
@SirDubs There are lots of folk with upper body disability that might have difficulty using their arms but would have plenty enough manual dexterity to work a few buttons on a controller. How do you think they use their chairs anyway?
@Kaboof Helper animals. They are taught how to pick things up without getting drool all over them. And there are helper animals like capuchin monkeys that have hands.
@SirDubs
It depends on the length of the arm. I can use my hand, and arms, well enough to propel myself in my wheelchair as well as grab most things that I need off a counter, shelf, etc. But there are things I can't reach. If the robotic arm could extend and reach those things for me it would be useful, depending upon the cost of course.
There are also quadriplegic people in a wheelchair who I've seen propel themselves in their chair but not have the dexterity and range of motion with their arm to grab certain things. Often, people in motorized wheelchairs I've met do have a joystick to propel themselves in their chair but obviously don't have the ability to grab something with their arm.
I also think the joystick is just for the demo. If this thing ever hits the consumer market it'll probably come able to be included in whatever control system someone has on their chair.
This thing does remind me of the robotic arm that opened Einstein's dog food at the beginning of Back to the Future though. The release of that movie was 25 years ago. You'd think we could improve the speed of robotic arms in 25 years.
@GMUHistorian
maybe they need doc to work on it
Usually people with upper limb disabilities dont sit in a wheelchair.
Is it just me or does that guy looks like he is too lazy to wank with his OWN HAND and decided there is a better way to do it by inventing this?
by the time his lips touched the glass he died of dehydration. RIP
I like his breakfast