Originally published by YouAreUNLTD on January 18, 2023
Hello Robot, which creates assistive mobile manipulator robots that aim to help aging adults with cognitive and physical impairments, was recently granted a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant worth approximately $2.5 million by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institute of Health (NIH).
The grant will help Hello Robot further develop its Stretch Cognitive and Physical Assistant. Stretch, as seen above on Hello Robot’s YouTube, is a mobile manipulator that can operate autonomously. The latest version of it, Stretch 2, has a 109 cm vertical range of motion, and a telescoping arm that can extend 52 cm beyond its base. With its wrist extending its reach, Stretch 2 can reach the back of a countertop.
The company’s goal for Stretch is to ease the current burden on caregivers. They hope that the device can be a friendly, affordable and capable helper for older adults struggling with a range of physical and cognitive impairments.
Hello Robot previously received a Phase I NIH award. To learn what progress they made thanks to the first grant, and how this additional grant funding will be used and the improvements they will develop for Stretch, check out therobotreport.com’s article here.