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<p><strong>Assistive Innovations, based in Didam, Gelderland, has been manufacturing robotic arms—among other products—for people with limited mobility or muscle strength for thirty years. Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be the key to innovating these robotic arms. But the research and development department is taking a wait-and-see approach. “In healthcare, we work with people,” emphasizes mechatronics engineer Lenardo Gijsbertsen. “So AI isn’t necessarily an improvement.”</strong></p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/Mensen_willen_geen_levende_robots_worden_e1e088a37b.jpg?token=CwnPUfQ0LA3547zmq9kQf8XyW97ShAJRG-D2NoNrVLo&amp;expires=1777453475" alt="Mensen willen geen levende robots worden.jpg" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Mensen_willen_geen_levende_robots_worden_e1e088a37b.jpg?token=wPpzOjoXV3wxGGmnk8H_r6JFoP2pjN8fAJCISh0q3sY&amp;expires=1777453475 245w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_Mensen_willen_geen_levende_robots_worden_e1e088a37b.jpg?token=_1PdnFkzazXy57FgUaxlPTYF9yD0aRr-ubyDm7dHVV4&amp;expires=1777453475 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_Mensen_willen_geen_levende_robots_worden_e1e088a37b.jpg?token=ZwNAALdAHIiNJb1UcTioImILjrrfBduS6s4c-BL-UUg&amp;expires=1777453475 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_Mensen_willen_geen_levende_robots_worden_e1e088a37b.jpg?token=_HHT0b24_ZsWq79iAx49C2r1sMGw_0Lfw99zVMu7h8w&amp;expires=1777453475 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="5568" height="3256"></p><p>Assistive Innovations, based in Didam, offers advanced, technology-based assistive devices for people with conditions such as muscular disorders or neurological conditions who need extra support. The company has been in business for thirty years. “We develop handy eating aids called ‘iEat,’ compact arm supports called ‘iFloat,’ finger strength amplifiers called ‘carbon hand,’ and controllable robotic arms called ‘iArm’ for people seeking relief or support and, above all, wanting to regain their independence,” says Lenardo Gijsbertsen. After studying mechanical engineering, he has been working for the past two years as a mechatronics engineer in the research &amp; development department at Assistive Innovations. “Our products are designed for people who need support with their daily activities, such as eating, drinking, painting, and much more. For example, our clients with a robotic arm can operate a joystick on the armrest of their wheelchair, but they can’t lift a cup or bring a spoon to their mouth. Our assistive devices are attached to the wheelchair or the table and enable clients to do those things.”</p><h2>Robotic Arm</h2><p>Gijsbertsen shows a video of a client using a robotic arm. The robotic arm is Assistive Innovations’ first product. Now, thirty years later, there are only two other manufacturers in the world that also develop these arms. “For us, the safety of our products is the absolute top priority,” says Gijsbertsen. “Our clients must be able to rely on the product: it must always respond in exactly the same way, so they aren’t caught off guard. If you perform this action, you can expect that specific response from the robot—that’s one of our most important requirements.”</p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/Assistive_Innovations_8f7b432cf6.jpg?token=4VFnuAeDGpm229ZDlsHCrtQb1FOgl2zSlDuWRT56Lhg&amp;expires=1777453506" alt="Assistive Innovations.jpg" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Assistive_Innovations_8f7b432cf6.jpg?token=Gmuc0v3b45rpPZ9eRXspaOxx3FyxPzrqZJj3q9sliU4&amp;expires=1777453506 234w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_Assistive_Innovations_8f7b432cf6.jpg?token=TF65KW6yp-i8i0OXTlSmnUXwhA3DyXAophwKg4FbVC0&amp;expires=1777453506 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_Assistive_Innovations_8f7b432cf6.jpg?token=O9zLykNm41wKfakayf5K8XPXVORAja0BYe2nfo8Tg_g&amp;expires=1777453506 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_Assistive_Innovations_8f7b432cf6.jpg?token=oDuCNpJ5CKoFxpi6vTYhNjQvz5R45WF1cMaa8KK1sxY&amp;expires=1777453506 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="5568" height="3712"></p><h2>Facial Recognition via AI</h2><p>At Assistive Innovations, developments in the field of AI are being followed with great interest. “AI could make a big difference in a product like our robotic arm. It makes everything more intuitive, which increases ease of use. For example, with AI, the arm can recognize the client’s face or sense on its own when a spoon is close enough to the mouth, thereby preventing it from ending up in the back of the throat. The robotic arm can also recognize movements using AI. When you open your mouth, the arm can automatically offer another bite of food.”</p><p>Still, people are very hesitant about adding AI to their products. “People want to retain control themselves,” says Gijsbertsen. Drawing on scientific research, he cites three key conditions for a happy life: autonomy, developing one’s skills, and feeling a sense of purpose. “In our products, we could have AI offer all sorts of things—but that’s not what our users want. They want to maintain their independence. Suppose you’re sitting with someone, talking over dinner, and you open your mouth to say something: you don’t want the robotic arm to suddenly offer you a spoon. People want to be in control themselves.”</p><h2>Reliability</h2><p>Still, the developers at Assistive Innovations are keeping the door open for AI. “As AI becomes increasingly reliable and precise, it becomes more interesting,” confirms Gijsbertsen. “That’s why we’re pleased with the involvement of, for example, the AI Hub East Netherlands and the opportunity to speak at their ‘AI in Robotics’ event on November 28. Through the AI Hub, we’ve established contact with companies in the agri-sector that are working on food recognition using AI. This AI application enables a robot to pick fruits or vegetables independently without, for example, squishing a tomato. These are interesting developments that we at Assistive Innovations may be able to incorporate into our products in the future.”</p><p>“If a robotic arm can perceive its surroundings using AI, it can move more smoothly and naturally. For example, it might notice that you’re talking to someone and that the arm needs to lower itself briefly. We can also further train our models, for example, to recognize colors and shapes, thereby making them even easier to use in the patient’s own environment. At the same time, we need to keep an eye on the price of our products. If they become too sophisticated—and therefore too expensive—there’s a risk that patients will no longer be reimbursed for our assistive devices by their health insurers. Moreover, I cannot emphasize enough that our products should serve a supportive function and not take over everything. Our clients are and will always be people; they do not want to become living robots.’</p>

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<p>Assistive Innovations, based in Didam, Gelderland, has been manufacturing robotic arms—among other products—for people with limited mobility or muscle strength for thirty years. Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be the key to innovating these robotic arms. But the research and development department is taking a wait-and-see approach. “In healthcare, we work with people,” emphasizes mechatronics engineer Lenardo Gijsbertsen. “So AI isn’t necessarily an improvement.”</p>