News Article

Barrett Excels at Hand-Eye Coordination!
Date: Apr 17, 2014
Source: Company Data ( click here to go to the source)

Featured firm in this article: Barrett Technology Inc of Newton, MA



NEWTON, MA, USA -- April 17, 2014

Barrett Technology is pleased to announce that it will begin offering a full-sensor-suite for its BarrettHand under the protection of US Patent 7,168,748 whose claims cover the addition of cameras and other sensors on the finger and palm surfaces of a robotic hand.

The new suite consists of stereo vision, a white LED for target illumination, a structured-light emitter, and an infrared range finder, all in the palm of the Hand. Palm height is increased by a barely-perceptible 6 mm.

Patented palm-mounted sensor suite consists of stereo vision, a white LED for target illumination, a structured-light emitter, and an infrared range finder

The suite will be available by this summer as an option on the latest BarrettHand, the BH8-282, and retrofittable on existing BH8-282s. Customers with BH8-280s can upgrade their Hands to BH8-282 for a small fee and then order the option for their upgraded Hand.

According to CEO Bill Townsend, "We had the foresight to anticipate the need for cameras and like sensors to be located right on the palm and fingers of robotic Hands. Our engineers were way ahead of the curve on this one.

By putting sensors in the palm, the resolution scales nicely with distance. A wide view when far away and high resolution when close up - all with minimal occlusion."

DARPA helped fund development of this sensor array, and the first systems will be installed on BarrettHands owned by DARPA under the highly-successful ARM project.

For more information, contact Victor Barrett at vb@barrett.com

Please visit www.WAMbotics.com a website dedicated to highlighting the worldwide research being conducted on the company's WAM (Whole Arm Manipulator) Robotic Arm and the highly versatile BarrettHand multi-fingered, dexterous programmable grasper with optional fingertip torque and tactile sensing.

About Barrett Technology, Inc.:
Barrett is the technology leader in high-performance robotic arms and hands for emerging applications requiring superior versatility.



March 4, 2014
WAM technology in leading neurorehabilitation research

NEWTON, MA, USA -- March 4, 2014

Barrett's WAM technology was designed from the beginning as human-centric, to be a robot that would be safer to work alongside people. This forward thinking approach now has the WAM in high demand as researchers and innovative companies realize the many benefits and extraordinary value to be created from the effective collaboration between robots and humans.

One such area where the WAM excels is the nascent field of Rehabilitation Robotics. Worldwide there are 15 million new incidences of stroke each year. In the United States, most people survive, but a full two thirds experience some level of long-term motor and/or cognitive impairment.

Haptics Helping People . . .

Led by Dr. James Patton, Director of The Center for Rehab Robotics at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), a team of researchers is using a WAM arm in their studies of error-augmentation to help survivors of stroke regain upper-limb mobility and strength.

" Careful consideration should be given when choosing a robot for human collaboration. We chose the Barrett WAM because it is more powerful, highly backdrivable, and provides excellent response for human-machine interaction." Dr. James Patton, RIC Center for Rehab Robotics

Combined with an inexpensive 3D projection system, users try to reach for balls that appear sequentially in space before them. During the various targeted movements, researchers can impart a full range of force fields on the user. This methodology is designed to reinforce normal motions and trajectories. The researchers create an engaging environment that challenges the user and leverages the natural process of neuroplastic learning to restore lost functions.

RIC's innovative approach puts the rehabilitation therapist in direct control of robotic therapy design, session length, repetition, movement intensity, individual patient scheduling, progress tracking, and treatment efficacy evaluation.

Robotic nerorehabilitation leverages the therapist's time, and assures that the user is engaged in their treatment, where both patient and therapist can see and feel their progress in real time.

The number of indications for this device is expected to rise as further research on the benefits of robotic neurorehabilitation therapy unfolds. For example, both the American Heart Association and the VA/DoD have recently endorsed upper-extremity robot-mediated rehabilitation therapy for stroke care.

For more information: About Barrett Technology... Barrett is the technology leader in high-performance robotic arms and hands for emerging applications requiring superior versatility.
Contact Victor Barrett at +1-617-252-9000 x33; vb@barrett.com
Website: www.barrett.com

About The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)... The Center for Bionic Medicine at RIC is one of the world's largest prosthetics and orthotic research centers; it focuses on developing bionic legs, bionic arms and other innovative rehabilitation technologies. Founded in 1954, RIC has been designated the "No. 1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991.
Contact Cari Dinneen +1-312-238-4571; cdinneen@ric.org
Website: www.ric.org