R2D2 at IIT Madras

WHAT'S NEW: July 29, 2020: NeoMotion, the startup from R2D2, is featured in this article!

July 09, 2020 - A video and forms to determine the suitability, prescription and use of the Arise Standing Wheelchair are now available. Check out the Resources page!

The TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras is headed by Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The group is involved in research related to human movement, the influence of orthotic and prosthetic devices on human movement, and the design and development of mechanisms, products and assistive devices for people with impairments.

R2D2 over the years (in images)

The first product from R2D2 was launched on November 05, 2019! The Standing Wheelchair, named Arise, was launched at IITM Research Park by the Hon'ble Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot. With support for commercialization from the Wellcome Trust (a UK foundation), the product was designed and developed at R2D2, and will be manufactured and marketed by Phoenix Medical Systems, a medical devices company founded and run by IITM alumnus, Mr. Sashi Kumar.

News related to launch of Arise

About Arise

Product enquiries: visit Phoenix's page or contact their Marketing Department at 18004253503 or by email: arise@pmsind.com

Visit of Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot to R2D2

Message from Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, WHO

R2D2 in the media and News

Jul 21, 2020: Indian Patent No. 342114 dated 08th Jul 2013 has been granted for "Swimming Pool Lift for Physically Challenged" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventor, Swostik Sourav Dash!
Jun 05, 2020: Indian Patent No. 338006 dated 01st Dec 2014 has been granted for "A Prosthetic Knee for Uneven Terrain" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventor, TS Anand!
May 22, 2020: Persons with Spinal Cord Injury are a more vulnerable segment to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Check out COVID-19 PANDEMIC & Spinal Cord Injury, a dedicated visual awareness resource with minimal text created to serve as a guide for persons with spinal cord injury. The resource has been produced as part of the Touch REHAB project in collaboration with the Spinal Foundation.
Feb 25, 2020: Indian Patent No. 332195 dated 15th June 2015 has been granted for "Flexlock for Tri-state KAFO" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventor, Ganesh Bapat!
Feb 06, 2020: R2D2 has signed an MOU with the Ganga Foundation for a project, as of now christened as Touch REHAB, to develop comprehensive, evidence-based, visual resources to empower persons with spinal cord injury from the acute stage of injury to Living Well with Spinal Cord Injury for a Lifetime
Jan 24, 2020: The Arise Team from R2D2, IIT Madras was awarded Ananda Vikatan's Nambikkai Award for Innovation for the development of Arise, the Standing Wheelchair.

News Report: R2D2 organized Assistive Technology (AT) Makeathon 2020 in conjunction with IIT Madras' Student Technical Festival SHAASTRA
GIAN course on Models of Walking and Running: Human Gait and Robot Locomotion was offered by Prof. James Schmiedeler of the University of Notre Dame from July 22-27, 2019.
GIAN course on Computational Musculoskeletal Biomechanics was offered by Prof. Marcus Pandy of the University of Melbourne from Sep 01-10, 2018
NeoMotion's Mobility Solutions - NeoFly and NeoBolt - win the Design: Impact Awards for Social Change instituted by Titan Company in collaboration with Tata Trusts! The awards ceremony was held on July 24 in Mumbai. The Award provides a grant of upto Rs.65 lakhs for each project, an opportunity for seed funding of an equal amount, and mentorship support.
NeoMotion's products-to-be showcased during German President's visit to IITM! German President impressed by IITM startups
Design patent no.290751 dated Dec 28, 2017 has been granted for "Lever operated knee joint for orthosis and prosthesis" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventors, Ganesh Bapat and Muthuvishvashwaran!
Design patent no. 294291 dated 31 May 2017 has been granted for "Portable manual standing wheelchair" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventors, Vivek Sarda and Swostik Dash!
Congratulations to Ganesh Bapat on winning the prestigious Keshav-Rangnath Award for Excellence in Research 2017! The award, instituted by IITM Distinguished Alumnus, Dr. Prakash Kesavaiah, is given jointly to a PhD scholar and his/her guide for the most impactful work. Ganesh's thesis is on the design, analysis and clinical assessment of orthotic knee joints. His work has the potential to impact millions of users because he has used scientific rigor in analysis in conjunction with biomechanical and clinical inputs to arrive at informed, practically realizable, cost-effective solutions for orthotic knee joints.
Design patent no.290752 dated Feb 10, 2017 has been granted for "Lever operated knee joint for orthosis and prosthesis" by the Indian Patent Office. Congratulations to co-inventors, Ganesh Bapat and Muthuvishvashwaran!
Team Aseem comprising Swostik Dash, Vivek Sarda and Ashish Sharma won second place at the ICRC's Enable Makeathon 2016 for their add-on device that can convert any wheelchair into a manual tricycle (NeoRider) or a motorized one (NeoBolt) for outdoor use.