Dec 30 2010
Alion Science and Technology, a Virginia-based Company, plans to focus its research on developing advanced robotic prosthetic limb technology for use by military amputees.
Alion declared that they were offered a contract worth $1.4 million for about 18 months for the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity.
Richard Brooks, Alion's Distributed Simulation Group manager and a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, commented that this particular project will lead to the development of a specific robotic prosthetic system for an amputee, with reduced costs for the sensors integrated within a limb. This innovative in-built control system thus provides lighter, comfortable and economical prostheses, and Richard added that their company’s architectural and recreation proficiency will generate improved and highly advanced artificial limbs.
Based on their contract with Illinois-based Sigenics, Alion will structure a methodology and architectural tool for robotic, upper-limb prosthetics providing cost-effective, weight-less,power-effective, and durable battery operated prosthetic system for helping the amputees.
According to the company, this innovative project will boost and enhance the advancement of implantable electronic sensing devices and the expansion and application of effective prototyping models, enabling the amputees to regulate the prosthetic. Sigenics fabricates integrated circuits and delivers experimented die or wrapped parts for sensor, analog and mixed-signal purposes.