In this week's episode, we feature two stories from the Oregon State Robotics Group.

Ravi Balasubramanian, mechanical engineering assistant professor, is designing robo-inspired implantable mechanisms to improve orthopedic surgeries of all types--with a specific focus on tendon transfer surgery related to restoring function of the hand. We talk with him in part 1. 

In part 2, we explore Project Chiron, a kit that turns a mechanized wheelchair into a self-driving wheelchair to help those with ALS. It's being developed by Bill Smart, mechanical engineering associate professor, and his graduate student Benjamin Narin.

BONUS MATERIAL 

• See pictures/diagrams of Ravi Balasubramanian's implantable mechanisms for orthopedic surgery.  
• Check out a picture of the Project Chiron kit. 
• Find out more about the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS) hosted at Oregon State.
• Learn more about Bill Smart and Benjamin Narin's work in the Personal Robotics Group. 
• Contact Bill Smart to help fund Project Chiron.

https://engineering.oregonstate.edu/season-2-engineering-inclusivity/inside-and-outside-s2e5