Sensors

Powercast is a leading provider of long-range, power-over-distance wireless charging technology using broadcasted RF energy (radio waves) converted into DC power. This is applied to industrial and portable commercial devices, consumer electronics, along with functional RFID. IDTechEx interviewed Powercast at RFID Live (Virtual) in October 2020.

AAC Technologies are a leading manufacturer of electromagnetic haptic actuators such as ERM motors and LRAs.

Austria-based Tyromotion has developed AMADEO, an "assist-as-needed" robotic therapy system for patients with motor impairments affecting the upper extremities.

Exoskeletons for neurological disorders, physical therapy and rehabilitation are wearable robotic devices placed on the user's body to augment, reinforce, or restore motor and/or cognitive function.

Ottobock has developed the C-brace, a low profile assistive medical exoskeleton for rehabilitation.

Parker Hannifin have two exoskeletons on the market: Indego Therapy for use in rehabilitation centres and Indego Personal for personal use in the home.

Ekso Bionics is one of the leading manufacturers of medical exoskeletons. The company released its newest exoskeleton, EksoNR, on the market in 2019 after receiving regulatory approval in the USA and Europe.

The company's ReStore ExoSuit is a powered, lightweight soft exo-suit intended for use in the rehabilitation of persons with lower limb disability due to stroke. It was first created at Harvard's Wyss Institute and is made of a soft wrap that is placed around the lower leg.

Harsh environments that are inhospitable to existing technologies could now be monitored using sensors based on graphene. An intriguing form of carbon, graphene comprises layers of interconnected hexagonal rings of carbon atoms, a structure that yields unique electronic and physical properties with possibilities for many applications.

Kinetek's product ALEx originated in Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, where it was developed to provide a solution for stroke upper limb rehabilitation. It is a CE certified medical device of class IIa.

Hocoma's ARMEO product enables arm and hand rehabilitation for patients with severe to mild levels of motor impairment in their upper limbs. It is specifically designed for arm and hand therapy in an early stage of rehabilitation. ARMEO has six actuated degrees of freedom so patients can train in an extensive 3D workspace.

Researchers at Seoul National University's Soft Robotics Research Center have developed a soft upper limb mobile exoskeleton for upper limb rehabilitation.

Myomo has developed MyoPro, a powered orthosis (brace) that may help restore function in arms and hands paralyzed by a stroke, brachial plexus injury (BPI), cerebral palsy or other neuromuscular disease or injury.

Reha Technology's robotic-assisted therapy device, G-EO, is used for neuro-rehabilitation of patients with neurological impairments resulting from stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at CEA research centre in France implanted two electrodes in a tetraplegic person's brain. The patient was then able to walk and control both arms of a four limb tethered (supported from above) exoskeleton using this neuroprosthetic.

The type of radical advances we cite may seem like unattainable science fiction but the following examples show how this is not true.

Motorika, a company based in New Jersey, released its lower limb stationary exoskeleton Optimal-G Pro in 2019. Optimal-G Pro is a personalised robotic training platform designed to train the walking gait of people who have suffered from a variety of neurological, neuromuscular and other injuries.

This IDTechEx premium article looks more closely at smart cities as heroic new concepts emerge.

The wearable sensor industry will be worth $2.5 billion in 2020, having tripled in size since 2014. This comes despite the significant economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a reduction in the total revenue this year.

Nano-C produce, functionalize, and integrate SWCNTs and Fullerenes process. IDTechEx spoke with Victor Vejins (CEO) and Darren Bischoff (Business Development Director)