CYBATHLON 2024

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LEG / Leg Prosthesis Race

CIERVO

ChileChile

About the Team

The CIERVO team comprises 25 interdisciplinary members, including electrical, biomedical, and mechanical engineers, all from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Their focus is on designing low-cost assistive technology that is both affordable and functional for those who rely on public healthcare systems. The project aims to implement automatic control to assist and regulate prosthetic movements, providing a more comfortable and adaptable experience for users.

By participating in CYBATHLON 2024, CIERVO seeks to demonstrate that technological innovation can be affordable and accessible. The goal is to change how public healthcare systems offer solutions to people with disabilities, proving that quality, functionality, and reduced costs can be combined to benefit a broader population. This approach is not only about design but also a commitment to improving the everyday lives of people with disabilities.

About the Pilot

Diego Ayala, a 34-year-old Chilean, lost his left leg in a car accident at the age of six. Instead of giving up, he found strength in his rehabilitation at Teletón to transform his life. Today, he is a neurosurgeon in training and a standout athlete on the national amputee football team, but his story doesn't end there.

This year, in addition to competing in the Amputee Football America Cup and the Chile Swimming Cup, Diego will face one of his greatest challenges as the pilot of the CIERVO UC project at CYBATHLON 2024. His experience as an amputee, doctor, and athlete makes him a key member of the team, providing a unique perspective in developing an accessible and functional prosthesis that could positively impact Chile’s public healthcare system.

Together with the interdisciplinary CIERVO UC team, Diego aims to show that innovation and collective effort can break any barrier and create new opportunities for those who need it most.

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