Kinova Robotics Joins $41 Million ARPA-H Initiative

Kinova announced its participation in the groundbreaking RAMMP (Robotic Assistive Mobility and Manipulation Platform) project – an ambitious five-year research and development initiative funded up to $41 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

The RAMMP project unites a national consortium of universities and industry partners to develop an intelligent, integrated mobility and manipulation system that will redefine independence for people with disabilities.

Revolutionizing Assistive Technology

The RAMMP project aims to build a next-generation robotic mobility and manipulation platform in the form of a smart power wheelchair and robotic arm system that empowers individuals with physical disabilities to perform complex activities of daily living, such as meal preparation and dining, taking medication, shopping, and school and workplace participation, with unprecedented ease and autonomy. The system integrates a new state-of-the-art power wheelchair, a new generation of the Jaco robotic arm, artificial intelligence, and advanced human-machine interfaces to deliver a seamless, semi-autonomous experience that enhances safety, confidence, and freedom of movement.

Kinova’s role centers on advancing robotic manipulation capabilities and human-robot interaction. As the project’s lead partner for robotic arm technologies, Kinova will transform its existing robotic arm platforms into a one-of-a-kind assistive robot that is designed for deep integration with the RAMMP platform. Kinova, with the collaboration of CMU and Cornell, will develop intelligent control algorithms, multimodal end-effector sensors, and adaptive user interfaces that allow the robotic arm to coordinate seamlessly with the wheelchair, enabling users to perform tasks like opening doors, manipulating a wide array of objects, and preparing and eating meals with natural, intuitive control.

“These technologies will empower users to live, work, and engage in their communities with levels of independence that were once out of reach,” said Charles Deguire, CEO of Kinova Robotics. “Our mission has always been to make advanced robotics accessible and meaningful to people’s lives. Partnering with ARPA-H and this exceptional consortium allows us to push those boundaries further than ever before.”

Kinova’s contributions will extend to the development of the SUITE (Sensing & User Interface for Task Enablement) subsystem, providing users with a 360° environmental view and transparent control with a wide variety of accessible control types and interfaces. Kinova will also integrate context-aware artificial intelligence into its new robotic arm control system to enable semi-automation of everyday tasks, significantly reducing mental and physical fatigue.

Through RAMMP, Kinova will collaborate with partners including the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) and University of Pittsburgh, LUCI, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Northeastern University, and the assistive tech innovators at AT Dev to pioneer a new open-source Assistive Technology Operating System (ATOS) and a simulation platform (RAMMS). These software ecosystems will accelerate global innovation in assistive robotics by allowing developers and researchers to design in a virtual environment that integrates real-world robotics with virtual test beds and machine learning.

By the project’s completion, Kinova’s technological advancements will feed directly into future commercial products, making intelligent, integrated assistive robots available to end users around the world. The company plans to incorporate the revolutionary technologies made possible by this collaboration into upcoming releases of its robotic arms and control interfaces, continuing its commitment to building bridges between cutting-edge research and market-ready accessibility solutions.

“This collaboration with ARPA-H and our academic and industry partners will define the next era of assistive robotics,” Deguire added. “Together, we are building the technology that will give people not just assistance – but true independence.”

Source: Kinova

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