Amidst the increasing demand for Bionic devices, growing public interest in Bionics, and UBC’s strategic positioning towards the field, we have created a new Design Team, BEAR, to foster excellence in the field of Bionics. Our goal is to generate solutions to replace human physiology, either by prosthesis or implants. Our initial project, GRASP, is to generate a low-cost, rapidly-manufacturable Bionic hand that could be used by individuals who have suffered amputation or congenital birth defects. Designing a low cost limb will help those in need who would otherwise have difficulty accessing bionic hands due to financial barriers. This will also allow undergraduates to gain experience designing and manufacturing Bionics.
Our vision is to position UBC at the forefront of undergraduate bionic innovation. Many undergraduate teams in Canadian and international institutions have already developed a focus in bionics, resulting in significant humanitarian contributions, creative and consequential solutions at competitions, and interest from the bionic industry and media. This includes the University of Toronto’s and University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s SmartARM project , the University of Victoria’s Victoria Hand Project, and the University of Louisville Bioengineering Group . We wish to maintain UBC’s relevancy and reputation as a place of innovative research in this exciting and important field. To design an effective device that leverages expertise in multiple domains, BEAR will be open to students from all Faculties. Our short term vision for BEAR is to generate a low-cost, rapidly-manufacturable bionic hand that could be used by individuals who have suffered amputation or birth defects, such as amelia, a congenital missing limb disorder. Designing a low cost limb will help those in need who would otherwise have difficulty accessing bionic hands due to financial barriers. This will also allow undergraduates to gain experience designing and manufacturing bionics.