Sensor-driven armband used to direct robots

ThalmicLabs’ MYO gesture-based armband is making inroads driving robots, moving robot arms and on the arms of a Dutch trance music producer, DJ and radio personality.

Clearpath Robotics and Energid Robotics and Machine Vision have both recently launched gesture-based interfaces using ThalmicLabs' MYO armband for users of their robots and robot arms. But the best example of the range of potential uses is the video on ThalmicLabs' site for the entertainer Armin Van Buuren. Skip forward to 1:30 to see how Armin and his team use the sensors in a show; then play the whole video to see how they do it.

Thalmic Labs, a Canadian startup, began in 2012 with a $1.1 million seed round, followed shortly thereafter by 30,000 pre-orders for the $149 band. In 2013 they raised $14.5 million in a Series A funding used to scale up and begin manufacturing the bands.

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.