2024 Stretch Robot Pitch Competition
The Stretch Robot Pitch Competition, sponsored by TechSAge RERC, in collaboration with Hello Robot is seeking innovative and creative hardware or software solutions to support individuals aging with disabilities by using the StretchTM robot. TechSAge is a collaborative research center based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia State University dedicated to understanding the needs of, and developing supportive technologies for, people aging with long-term vision, hearing, and mobility disabilities.
Developed by Hello Robot, Stretch is an open source mobile manipulator with reaching, grasping, and sensing capabilities to support people with a wide range of tasks.
Purpose: To engage students at Illinois to generate novel design concepts for Stretch that address the in-home needs of individuals aging with disabilities.
Submission Requirements:
- 2 page proposal that highlights need/use case, methods/approach, and concept.
- Need/Use Case: identify a need for individuals aging with disabilities, state how the proposed design product (software and/or hardware innovation with Stretch) addresses the need, and the expected significance/implications of the design.
- Methods/Approach: Design process, considerations, and how you will utilize Stretch
- Concept: Detailed description of concept, including pictures or graphics, if applicable
- Pitch video (< 3 minutes) that provides an overview of you proposed design concept. Can be a video or PowerPoint with audio recording!
- *See submission guidelines for full details and judging criteria
Award:
- First Place: $1000 cash award plus the opportunity develop and test concept in collaboration with researchers in laboratory and home settings.
- Honorable Mentions: Cash awards at $500 each.
Deadline: November 30, 2024
Eligibility: This competition is open to all currently enrolled University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students (undergraduate and graduate). Contestants may enter submissions individually or as a team. This competition is for pitching new ideas for Stretch. We strongly discourage proposals about work that has already been done with Stretch. If you’re unsure about this, please contact us with your initial idea to confirm.
Stretch Features
- Able to interact with people using a low mass, contact-sensitive body
- Works in clutter with a compact footprint and a slender manipulator
- Weighs only 51 lbs
- Everything included: a gripper, a computer, sensors, and software
- Ready for autonomy
- Calibrated
- Python interfaces and ROS integration
- Autonomy demos in Python
- Open source code
For detailed Stretch specifications, please visit: https://hello-robot.com/product
Aging with Disability
Older adults with long-term vision, hearing, or mobility disabilities are likely to experience unique challenges with everyday activities. In addition to managing a long-term disability, they may also experience barriers in performing activities due to age-related declines in physical, sensory, and cognitive functions. Stretch holds great potential to assist people aging with disability in carrying out a wide variety of household activities.
Use Cases
Suggested scope of projects can include developing new capabilities for Stretch and improving on its existing features and interfaces. Some examples might include:
- Programming Stretch to assist with laundry activities
- Developing end effectors and software routines for Stretch to dust surfaces
- Programming Stretch to automatically open kitchen cabinets and retrieve items
- Developing speech interfaces for grounded language instructions
How to Submit
- Prepare your proposal
- Due to potentially large file sizes, we recommend sending us a link to your materials using cloud storage (e.g., Box, Dropbox, Google drive) or YouTube.
- Submit through the link provided (Web form)
- Please email us for any other additional information:
Opportunity: Get Feedback from OT Students
Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged to develop concepts that not only have cool technology, but also technology that meets the everyday challenges experienced by people aging with disability. Doctoral Occupational Therapy (OT) Students from our TechSAge partner at Georgia State University’s OT Department can consult with your team and offer guidance on applications and designs for Stretch that can address those challenges. Please email us at techsage@illinois.edu for more information.
Timeline
- Competition Opens: 9/23/2024
- Info Session: Details coming soon. Sign-up for more information:
-
- Submission Deadline: Saturday, 11/30/2024
- Winner(s) Announced: Week of December 16th 2024
- Time with Stretch (winning team): Spring 2025 semester
What creative ideas do you have for Stretch to support people aging with disability at home?
Resources
- Aging and Disability
- Universal Design Videos: This video series explores the 7 Principles of Universal Design and how they can be applied to products, interfaces and spaces
- Publications:
- Hello Robot
Sponsors
TechSAge RERC
click here to read more
Hello Robot
click here to read more
Contact Us
Questions about the competition? Email us: techsage@illinois.edu