FREE 3D Hands proudly announces the open-source release of the Kinetic Arm, a groundbreaking, body-powered assistive device for people with trans-radial arm differences. The Kinetic Arm is the culmination of over 4000 hours of engineering, design and testing over two and a half years, made possible by the generous support of the global community, philanthropists, and corporate partners.
The design files were freely shared with the world last Thursday, September 12 at 10am.
Traditionally, assistive devices like this have cost tens of thousands of dollars, putting them out of reach for 90 per cent of people around the world (according to the World Health Organisation). In 2020, Free 3D Hands openly shared the Kinetic Hand, which is now being made by over 10,000 volunteers and organisations all around the world. Free 3D Hands will now offer the Kinetic Arm free of charge, to anyone, anywhere in the world – they even pay the postage.
The Kinetic Arm, which can be manufactured for less than $20 in materials, is an embodiment of what’s possible when love, kindness, and generosity fuel innovation. With incredible support of the community, Free 3D Hands has expanded its team of biomedical and mechatronic engineers, dramatically accelerating the pace of open-source development.
“We are an engine that runs on the love, kindness and generosity of others. Together, this is our gift to the world”, said Mat Bowtell, Founder and CEO of Free 3D Hands.
The Kinetic Arm is a body-powered device, operated through elbow movement to open and close the fingers, with a wrist that can rotate into multiple grasp positions. This simple, intuitive design is transformative for people with trans-radial arm differences. The device’s low manufacturing cost ensures that people across the globe, especially in underserved communities, can access this life-changing technology. Open-sourcing the design allows anyone with access to a 3D printer to download the design files and make their own devices, creating an exponential global impact.
In addition to offering the Kinetic Arm for free, Free 3D Hands is sharing its intellectual property (IP) under an open-source license, ensuring anyone can manufacture it. The design is accompanied by a 247-page assembly manual and a 43-minute video tutorial to share their manufacturing techniques.
“We hope that by sharing our designs, even commercial developers of assistive technology will learn from our low-cost ideas and be inspired to bring down the cost of commercially available devices,” Bowtell explained.
“Ultimately, we want to make assistive technology more affordable and accessible for the millions of people globally who are currently unable to access or afford it.
“Our team are driven by the smiles on the faces of our device recipients. If we were to charge even ten dollars for one of our devices, then to us, it would only be worth ten dollars. But when we provide our devices free of charge, with no expectation of reward, they become priceless,” Bowtell continued.
Globally recognised the charity relies entirely on donations to fund the design and development of open-source assistive devices without any Government funding. Free 3D Hands became a DGR-1 registered charity in 2019 and has since provided thousands of free assistive devices to people in over 30 countries.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone. The expansion of our engineering team has allowed us to significantly accelerate our open-source development, and the Kinetic Arm is a direct result of this generosity. Our work is powered by love, kindness, generosity and a shared vision of a world where assistive devices are accessible to all,” Bowtell said.
Those who wish to support by making a tax-deductible donation to Free 3D Hands can donate at free3dhands.org/donate. All donations to Free 3D Hands go directly towards the research, design and development of open-source assistive devices, which are provided for free to those in need.
