Hollis Pierce celebrated a milestone by capturing his first selfie with the help of a dedicated engineering team. Pierce, a disability advocate and head of accessibility and partnerships at Sielo Robotics in Ottawa, operates Arlo, the company’s assistive robotic arm, using a space mouse. The process of mastering this technology initially took Pierce about an hour, but he now finds the latest model akin to playing a video game.
Sielo Robotics, known for its user-centric approach, recently secured a million dollars in seed funding, accelerating its progress. The company collaborates with The 8-80 Collaborative and aims to bring Arlo, the robotic arm, into homes and communities. Pierce, impressed by the benefits of Arlo, highlighted its potential to simplify daily tasks for individuals with physical disabilities.
Rafaël Hébert, Sielo’s chief technology officer, expressed optimism about the progress made by users like Pierce in utilizing the robotic arm for various tasks. The company is focused on addressing the challenge of replicating complex human actions in diverse environments by incorporating user feedback and developing AI-enabled systems.
Sielo Robotics aims to offer an affordable and insurance-covered device, with plans to introduce robotic arms into households for beta testing by the year’s end. Pierce, excited about the future prospects of Arlo for the younger generation, emphasized the positive impact it could have on individuals with disabilities from a young age.
