Hollis Pierce recently experienced a significant milestone by capturing his first selfie, surrounded by the engineering team instrumental in enabling this moment. Pierce, a vocal advocate for individuals with physical disabilities, serves as the head of accessibility and partnerships at Sielo Robotics in Ottawa.
Part of his responsibilities at the robotics company includes testing products, notably the assistive robotic arm named Arlo, which he can operate using a space mouse. Pierce expressed his determination to take a selfie, which initially took him about an hour due to the learning curve. However, with the latest fourth-generation model, he likened the experience to playing a video game.
Pierce openly shares feedback with his colleagues, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of Arlo. Sielo Robotics, founded at the University of Ottawa, emphasizes incorporating insights from users with firsthand experiences to drive innovation.
The company recently secured a million dollars in seed funding, propelling their work forward. Collaborating with The 8-80 Collaborative, Sielo Robotics aims to bring Arlo into households and communities, requiring more individuals like Pierce to test and provide valuable feedback.
Rafaël Hébert, the company’s chief technology officer, commended Pierce’s progress with the robotic arm, noting his ability to perform tasks like taking selfies and interacting with objects. Overcoming the challenge of replicating complex human actions in various settings, Sielo Robotics gathers input from users utilizing diverse control methods.
Masoud Karimi, a robotics control engineer at Sielo, is focused on developing an AI-enabled system for the robotic arm to streamline routine tasks efficiently. The company’s vision is to offer an affordable device covered by insurance, accessible to individuals with disabilities. With the recent funding boost, Sielo aims to expedite development and potentially introduce their robotic arms for beta testing in households by the year’s end.
Pierce, excited about Arlo’s future implications, envisions the device benefiting future generations of individuals with disabilities. The prospect of early access to such technology for young users particularly excites him.