only one hand but when my son
Joshua came along ten months
ago, I realised how much more
I could do with two.” Danny,
and his partner Danielle,
had anticipated having
issues with dexterous tasks
like nappy changing and
getting the baby dressed,
but Danny hadn’t realised
how much not doing these
things would affect the bond
with his son.
Danny had heard of a
company called Open Bionics.
The Bristol-based company is a
multi-award-winning designer and
manufacturer of affordable prosthetic
limbs and is responsible for
producing the world’s rst medically
certi ed 3D-printed bionic arm.
Bristol-based Open Robotics was
founded by 2014 British Engineering
Excellence Awards winner Joel
Gibbard and Samantha Payne. The
company is committed to developing
affordable robotic systems that
enhance the human body. According
to the company, the main areas
where it has been able to innovate
to achieve savings are cost; weight;
size; style and control.
The Hero Arm
represents the latest stage
in this process. It is the
world’s rst medically
certi ed 3D-printed
bionic arm, with multigrip
functionality and
empowering aesthetics.
Engineered and
manufactured
in Bristol, UK,
the Hero Arm
is a lightweight
and affordable
myoelectric prosthesis,
available now in the USA,
UK and France for below
elbow amputee adults and
children over eight.
Each Hero Arm is
custom built using 3D
printing and 3D scanning
technologies. The
prosthesis is robust, and
the socket is comfortable,
adjustable and breathable
too, which means it’s easy
to take on and off while
providing the user with
the best possible t.
Even though the Hero Arm is
powered by space grade motors,
advanced software and long-lasting
batteries, it is lightweight and super
sleek. The hand, which comes in
three sizes, is the lightest on the
market. They are also very strong,
being able to lift up to 8 kg (17.64
lbs).
Special sensors within the Hero
Arm detect muscle movements,
meaning users can effortlessly
control their bionic hand with
intuitive life-like precision. Also,
haptic vibrations, beepers,
buttons and lights provide intuitive
noti cations.
Open Bionics has worked with
global DC drive manufacturer maxon
since its inception in 2015. maxon
designed and produced the actuator
for the digits in the Hero Arm – each
nger uses a maxon DCX 12 L motor.
The actuator consists of a DC motor
driving a customised gearbox and
lead screw and nut, developed for
the speed of each user.
As muscles generate electrical
signals when they contract, they
create movement when connected to
the electrodes in the prosthetic. Adult
hands use four DC motors and, as
they are so much smaller, a child’s
hand uses only three. As
space is limited, Open
Bionics chose maxon’s
DCX 12mm as it is the
most compact DC motor
with the highest power
density on the market.
The company was also
able to get samples
quickly delivered by
using the maxon online
Con gurator.
Although Open Bionics
offer Hero Arms in
various designs, including
ones from Disney, Danny
has opted to go for the
sleek black cover to
match his legs. “When I
was younger, I was given
skin-coloured tights and
padding to make my
legs look ‘real’, but they
snagged a lot and it wasn’t
practical. I used to park
in the disabled bays and
get abuse from people
not realising I didn’t
have any legs, now I
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