Obi has designed a robot arm that will help the differently abled people to feed themselves. This new robot will be helpful to people with disabilities such as ALS, cerebral palsy, MS, Parkinson's and brain or spinal injuries.
The Obi arm robot separates the meal into four separate bowls, allowing users to feed themselves using a simple interface: one button moves the arm around the four bowls, while the other buttons helps select the food from the bowls. The robot then dips the spoon in and brings it up to the diner's mouth.
Input can be customized according to the needs and abilities of the user. The ‘Buddy Buttons’ can be a useful feature for the people with some function in their arm, but are unable to hold the spoon steadily.
The Obi arm has a ‘Tech Mode’, which allows placing the robot arm manually to the desired place. The robot then remembers the position and functions accordingly, until a new position is set.
The collision detection on the Obi arm protects the arm from colliding with user’s face. After the dinner is done, the BPA-free Obi plates and spoons can be dish-washed or used with the microwave.
The Obi arm will provide up to two to four hours of eating time for each charge of its internal batteries. The device is available for US $4,500 and includes spoons, plate, placemat, charging cable and user documentation. The "Buddy Buttons," pillows and mouth piece can be ordered separately.
