Hollis Pierce captured one of his earliest selfies surrounded by the engineering team responsible for making it happen.
“At 38 years old, I’ve never taken a selfie before,” Pierce shared.
Using a powered wheelchair, Pierce is a strong advocate for individuals with physical disabilities. He also serves as the head of accessibility and partnerships at Sielo Robotics, located in Ottawa.
A portion of his responsibilities includes testing products for the robotics firm. He operates Arlo, the company’s assistive robotic arm, with a space mouse that allows for navigation in three-dimensional spaces across six directions.
“I set a goal in my mind to pick up my phone and take a selfie, and that became my objective for the day,” Pierce noted. “Initially, it took me about an hour to accomplish.”
Although there is a learning process, Pierce mentioned that the latest fourth-generation model resembles playing a video game.
He has been open with his colleagues about both the outstanding features and the shortcomings of Arlo.
Hollis Pierce utilized the Arlo robotic arm crafted by Sielo Robotics to take this selfie. (Hollis Pierce/Seilo Robotics)
Founded at the University of Ottawa, the company prides itself on drawing inspiration from users who have actual experience.
Their progress is set to accelerate this summer following the acquisition of one million dollars in seed funding this past May.
“We didn’t have any venture capital or organizations backing our efforts. It was entirely driven by individuals… who listened to what we’re doing,” explained Laila Burns, the company’s chief revenue officer.
Sielo Robotics continues its operations in a lab at the University of Ottawa and has collaborated with The 8-80 Collaborative, a joint effort between the CHEO Research Institute and Bruyère Health.
Before Arlo can be introduced into homes and communities, more testers like Pierce are necessary.
“The arm would significantly address issues for someone like me, aiding with essential tasks like wiping my nose or drinking water without the need to call a nurse and wait for 15 minutes,” Pierce stated.
Rafaël Hébert, Sielo’s chief technology officer and a recent graduate in engineering, expressed optimism upon witnessing the advancements users have achieved.
“He’s now able to take a selfie and grab items to place on his tray, as well as engage with his own body,” Hébert remarked about Pierce’s strides with the robotic arm.
Rafaël Hébert, the chief technology officer at Sielo Robotics, is working on a component of their robotic arm. (Matthew Kupfer/CBC)
Reproducing intricate human movements in unpredictable settings presents a significant hurdle in the field of robotics. Additionally, Hébert noted that Sielo is gathering insights from users who have already customized technology to fit their requirements.
“Each person maneuvers their wheelchair in a unique manner. Some utilize eye tracking, sip-and-puff systems, joysticks, or switches located in their headrests or legs,” Hébert explained.
“We can adapt that to facilitate the use of our product as well.”
Masoud Karimi, a robotics control engineer at Sielo and a post-doctoral researcher, is focused on creating an AI-powered system for the arm that enables it to effectively learn routine tasks.
“Our objective is to employ this technology for more complex tasks that are particularly challenging for individuals with disabilities to manage independently using a space mouse,” Karimi remarked.
A version of Arlo that’s being programmed to perform routine tasks using artificial intelligence. (Matthew Kupfer/CBC)
The company’s primary aim has always been to develop a device that is significantly more affordable than existing market options and eligible for insurance coverage, according to Burns, the chief revenue officer.
The recent seed funding will enable the company to accelerate development after years of securing funds through student entrepreneur pitch contests and research grants, she stated.
Burns, who paused her academic pursuits to concentrate on the company, anticipates that Sielo will have its robotic arms in homes by the year’s end, “at least for beta testing.”
In the lab, Pierce noted that his skills in taking selfies are improving. He is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunities Arlo could provide for future generations.
“Having Arlo accessible to young individuals with disabilities would be incredible,” he remarked.
