Personal Background and Motivation

• Speaker born without right hand, grew up in Sacred Valley of Incas, Cusco, Peru
• Childhood inspiration from Star Wars Empire Strikes Back - Luke Skywalker's prosthetic hand
• Dream to create prosthesis like Luke Skywalker led to studying mechatronics engineering

University Research Project

• Studied at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
• Worked in biomechanics and applied robotics laboratory with multidisciplinary team
• Developed myoelectric prosthesis for long transradial amputation
• Speaker served as pilot user
• Features achieved:
  • Individual finger movement
  • Haptic feedback system providing sensation from fingertips to forearm
• Cost: $40,000 due to imported motors from Switzerland

Cost Accessibility Problem

• $40,000 cost prohibitive for target population
• 4 out of 5 people with upper limb amputation live in developing countries
• Even $25,000 imported robotic prosthesis too expensive
• In Peru: equivalent to 7 years full-time minimum wage work just for prosthesis
• Common injury causes: manual labor (farming, metal manufacturing)
• Need functional hand to return to work and earn money

Cost Reduction Strategy

• Primary cost driver: imported motors
• Conducted occupational focus groups with amputee volunteers
• Identified 3 most-used gestures achievable with single motor:
  • Pinch
  • Cylindrical
  • Lateral
• Reduced electromyographic sensors from 8 to 1
• Material choice: 3D printing with recycled plastic bottles

Development Process

• 3D scan amputated area and intact hand
• Use proprietary parametrization software for measurements
• Recreate fingers, palm, and prosthesis socket in computational model
• 3D print all components

Lab Bionics Products

• Two prosthesis types developed:
  • Machi: mechanical activation
  • Pisco: electronic activation
• Pisco costs only 10% of imported robotic prosthesis
• Enables working-class access to technology

Impact and Results

• Example user: Franco using transradial Machi prosthesis
• Returned to work on jungle farm with his prosthesis
• User reactions: compassion changes to astonishment
• Technology competitive with expensive imported alternatives
• Developed with local population needs in mind
• Enables people with disabilities and limited resources to "live life again"

Vision and Call to Action

• Started as personal journey, now serves entire region
• Invitation for others to join the mission