Handy Robot

HandyHand: Assistive Control That Adapts With You

Because life with ALS isn’t static—so why should your assistive tech be?

The Problem

Imagine waking up one day, and the simple things you used to take for granted—like holding a cup of coffee or feeding yourself—suddenly become impossible.
For millions of older adults, and for people with ALS or other progressive motor conditions, this is a daily reality.

ALS is unpredictable. One day, you can move your arm; the next, you can’t. Mobility fluctuates minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour. Yet assistive technology has barely evolved—relying on static, one-size-fits-all controls like joysticks, sip-and-puff systems, or fixed EMG sensors. They’re designed for conditions that don’t change, leaving ALS patients frustrated when their abilities do.

Our Solution

HandyHand takes a radically different approach:
We built an adaptive control system that evolves with the user. As a patient’s condition changes, so can the control hardware, input gestures, and mappings—instantly, without retraining from scratch.

Dynamic Control Remapping – Customize gestures, sensors, and actions anytime.
Multiple Input Types – Use fingers, EMG sensors, cheek triggers, or any combination.
On-the-Fly Switching – Change control modes instantly (e.g., from gaming to daily tasks).
Preset Profiles – Automatically load personalized control layouts for different activities.

For example, Bob, an ALS patient, uses HandyHand to game with “rock–paper–scissors” gestures in the morning, and later, at the bar, those same gestures map to holding a drink or signaling for help—without him touching a single setting.

Demo

In our prototype, flexing fingers makes a fist. With one cheek trigger, the system remaps instantly: now a bicep flex sends a “point” signal while a fist does nothing.
Caregivers and patients can set multiple presets to swap on the go, ensuring independence and fluidity in any setting.

Why It’s Innovative

Designed for Progressive Conditions – Not static disabilities.
Most Mapping Potential on the Market – More possible control combinations than any competitor.
Hardware–Software Bridge – Developers can work on hardware or prosthetic control independently, then map them together.
Budget-Friendly & Future-Proof – Swap out sensors without replacing the whole system; compatible with future biosensing advances.
Caregiver-Friendly – Simple UI, flexible ordering, and minimal retraining needed.

Impact

Patients – Maintain independence, adapt controls as abilities change, and keep doing what they love.
Caregivers – Easy setup, remote reconfiguration, and cost flexibility.
Developers – Modular system enables specialized contributions without reinventing the wheel.

The Opportunity

Market Size – Assistive Robotics is projected to grow from $9.54B (2023) to $67.50B (2032).
Need – Over 50M people are affected by progressive motor-impairing diseases.
User Demand – Studies show older adults often prefer robotic assistance for personal care tasks over human help.

We’re at the forefront of a shift in assistive care—bridging hardware and software to deliver a truly adaptive, personalized experience.

HandyHand adapts to your life, not the other way around.