Hollis Pierce experienced a significant moment when he captured his first selfie, surrounded by the engineering team responsible for the technology. Pierce, a vocal advocate for individuals with physical disabilities and the head of accessibility and partnerships at Sielo Robotics in Ottawa, utilizes a powered wheelchair.
His responsibilities at the robotics company include testing products, such as the assistive robotic arm called Arlo. Pierce controls Arlo using a space mouse, a device that enables manipulation of 3D environments in multiple directions. Despite initially spending about an hour mastering the process of taking a selfie, Pierce emphasized that the latest model, the fourth generation, offers a smoother experience akin to playing a video game.
Sielo Robotics, founded at the University of Ottawa, prioritizes insights from individuals with firsthand experience in their product development. The company recently secured one million dollars in seed funding in May, propelling their work forward.
Collaborating with The 8-80 Collaborative, a partnership involving the CHEO Research Institute and Bruyère Health, Sielo Robotics remains based in a University of Ottawa laboratory. The company’s ultimate goal is to introduce Arlo into households and communities, necessitating additional testers like Pierce to enhance the product’s functionality.
Rafaël Hébert, the chief technology officer at Sielo, expressed optimism witnessing users like Pierce successfully mastering the robotic arm’s capabilities. He highlighted how users’ varied control methods, from eye gaze to joysticks, inform the company’s design process to cater to diverse needs effectively.
Masoud Karimi, a robotics control engineer at Sielo, is developing an AI-enabled system for Arlo to record and execute routine tasks seamlessly. The company aims to offer an affordable and insurance-covered device that surpasses current market options, with the recent funding accelerating their progress.
Laila Burns, the chief revenue officer, shared that Sielo Robotics plans to conduct beta testing of their robotic arms in people’s homes by the year’s end. Pierce, reflecting on his improved selfie-taking abilities, envisions the transformative impact Arlo could have on future generations, particularly children with disabilities.
