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ARM / Arm Prosthesis Race

Touch Hand

South AfricaSouth Africa

About the Team

"The true purpose of our research and development is to make a difference in a person's life, not money. And that is what drives and motivates us." says Riaan Stopforth, Touch Hand's director. The South African team has been specializing in low-cost arm prostheses since 2013 to make them affordable for low-income households and countries while still incorporating advanced technologies. At CYBATHLON they will start with an improved version of the 4th prototype.  "As a team we go through ups and downs together, we focus on practical solutions that work. CYBATHLON is a good opportunity for us to compare, a benchmark to see where we stand, but we are also happy to celebrate the event and our work." Riaan continues, and at the same time expresses his gratefulness and affection to the pilots: "The pilots encounter many barriers, many of which we don't even notice. I think we often think that we understand what they go through every day, but that's not the case! Our team is lucky to have pilots like ours who are willing to test our product and give us valuable feedback."

Pilot - Lungile Kenneth Dick

Lungile Kenneth Dick has a dream: "I want to build my own business, one that puts a smile on the face of disabled people. A place where there is room for them and where they are appreciated.". Some 15 years ago, he had lost his hand in an accident at work: "Employee safety was neglected and production was given priority. Fortunately, this is not the case at my current job at VW. Here, even with my impairment, I am completely integrated and appreciated". The South African still faces discrimination, he believes that in some areas, especially gender and disability, it has become a habit: “many have never had time to deal with it or to free themselves from this way of thinking. Again and again I feel exploited or emotionally humiliated, that's why I grew myself a thick skin. Despite everything, I keep believing in myself and have remained an open person.” How people should live together, Lungile experiences in the Team TouchHand: “We work together respectfully and empathically. It’s incredible to see the joy with which everyone is working on the project. I hope that in the future, when the prosthesis is further developed, it will reduce my physical handicap and help others in developing countries".

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CYBATHLON Results

Team

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

The Team

Riaan Stopforth

Riaan Stopforth

Team Manager

Social Wall

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 1 month ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

1 month ago

A mechatronics engineering research opportunity with a commercial application and problem to be solved.

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 1 month ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

1 month ago

2020/2021 Lab newsletter - Medical edition.

With the requests received for updated on research for the past couple of years, I have decided to compile this newsletter that focuses on the medical related research that was pursued. We are grateful for the sponsors and many collaborators (apologies if I have left you out - there are so many people and companies involved).

http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.19799.19362

Advanced Engineering Design Group MediVentors

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 1 month ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

1 month ago

Been comparing an advanced simulator with the actual aircraft instruments to include in courses lecture videos.

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 1 month ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

1 month ago

Research postgraduate opportunity for Commercial Vehicle Steering control system for tire deflation

Suitable student/s that are interested in completing their MSc 1 year or PhD 2 years, in the realms of a project in the automotive crash analysis/safety field, are invited to submit their interest to the following project.
In brief overview (finer details of the project supplied on shortlisted selection of interested parties), the project entails the complete initial research, setup and undertaki ...

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 1 month ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

1 month ago

Magic cubes. 3D printed and painted to see how the different surfaces correlate with each other as it folds into itself.

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 2 months ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

2 months ago

The results of conductive 3D printing material that were tested.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e01040

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 2 months ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

2 months ago

The MediVentors at University of KwaZulu-Natal. This group has been developing cost effective solutions for problems experienced in the Port Shepstone provincial hospitals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical doctors have been very supportive to collaborate on these projects. From left to right (and a description of their project):

Pragesh Govender & Sibongiseni Khumalo: Initially it was only a Diebetic / glucose and vitals monitoring "smart watch", but further research is bein ...

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 2 months ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

2 months ago

The suspense... To know the results after the 4 November 2021...

The concept submitted for the competition is 3D printed electrodes, that have been tested in the local hospitals...

Shared by Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab at 2 months ago

Stopforth Mechatronics, Robotics and Research Lab

2 months ago

Robotics in Mining, presented by Dr Shaniel Davrajh, who is a principle Mechanical Engineer at the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa.

Website Link: https://www.saimm.co.za/saimm-events/saimm-webinars/robotics-in-mining

Attendance is free, but registration is required.

Videos

  • November 13th 2020, 12:00 am

    Touch Hand - Team Portrait

  • November 13th 2020, 12:00 am

    Touch Hand - Statement

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