Open Bionics/ Facebook
Open Bionics $1m award
The Open Bionics team pose with their AI & Robotics Award for Good
Open Bionics, a developer of affordable 3D-printed bionic hands for amputees, has won the International UAE Robotics for Good Award in Dubai and a $1 million prize fund.
The UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good intends to support innovation in the key area of artificial intelligence and robotics as part of the UAE’s commitment towards the National Innovation Strategy. Focusing on the practical side of these innovative technologies in areas such as health, education and social services, the Award seeks to recognise the very best inventions every year, nationally and internationally.
Over a thousand initial applicants put forward their technologies into the international category, which was whittled down to just ten finalists. Competing against other robotics and AI innovators, such as DOME Project, Fathom One and HyRIZON, Open Bionic’s 3D-printed prostheses were adjudged to be the best invention.
Reacting to the accomplishment on social media, Open Bionics said the $1 million prize will help the company push on as it seeks to properly serve all amputees.
Open Bionics/ Twitter
Open Bionics $1m award 2
Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed honours Open Bionics after winning the UAE AI & Robotics International Award for Good
“Team OB just won the Robotics for Good Award in Dubai,” a Facebook post on Saturday started. “Over 1,600 technologies for good applied and after competing against the top 10 best assistive technologies the judges chose our bionic hands! Now we have the funding to push our hands through the final stages of medical testing and finally get them to everyone who needs one.”
Open Bionics followed up on Twitter: “Thank you to everyone for the support and for helping us get here.”
Spurred on by over 2 million hand amputees across the world who could benefit from low-cost, high-performing prosthetic hands, Open Bionics has already won a series of product-, engineering- and prostheses-specific awards. The Bristol-based start-up has sought to cater for the needs of amputees big and small, launching a child’s range of patterned prosthetics, boasting Iron Man, Frozen and Star Wars themed hands, and ranges more suitable for adults. Additionally, in March 2016, Open Bionics launched a bionic hand for one-handed gamers. Founded in 2014, the company has utilised the capabilities of Ultimaker desktop printers for most of its innovations so far.
