2025 Stretch Robot Pitch Competition

Promotional graphic for Stretch Robot Pitch Competition at Georgia Tech 2025. Features image of robot passing a coffee cup to a man. Includes logos of sponsors: TechSAge RERC, Hello Robot, and AI Caring

2025 Stretch Robot Pitch Competition

The Stretch Robot Pitch Competition, sponsored by TechSAge RERC, in collaboration with Hello Robot, AI-CARING and IPaT, is seeking innovative and creative hardware or software solutions to support individuals aging with disabilities by using the Stretch^TM robot. 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 Georgia Tech to generate novel design concepts for Stretch that address the 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. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged!
- 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 GT’s Aware Home in Spring 2026 (via independent study course)
Honorable Mentions: Cash awards at $500 each.

Important dates:

Deadline: November 2, 2025 (11:59PM)
Independent Study Course: Spring 2026
Present at GT Robotics Research Showcase: April 2026

Eligibility: This competition is open to all currently enrolled at Georgia Tech (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.

About our sponsors: TechSAge is a collaborative research center based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Georgia Institute of Technology, 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. AI-CARING is a collaborative research institute, which includes Georgia Tech, that is focused on developing the next generation of personalized, collaborative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to support older adults and their network of care partners. Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) is an Interdisciplinary Research Institute at Georgia Tech offering a unique people-first approach to research and innovation; IPaT supports the Aware Home Living Lab and resident Stretch robot.

Sign Up for Competition Updates

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
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/stretch-3-product

Aging with Disability

People aging with long-term vision, hearing, or mobility disabilities are likely to experience unique challenges with everyday activities. Stretch holds great potential to assist people aging with disability in carrying out a wide variety of activities. Suggested scope of projects can include developing new capabilities for Stretch and improving on its existing features and interfaces.

Use Cases

TechSAge researchers have identified key challenges and un-met needs among people aging with disabilities. Learn about real-life challenges that can inspire your Stretch design!

User Needs for Design Inspo

How to Submit

Prepare your proposal
Due to potentially large file sizes, we recommend creating a link to your materials using cloud storage (e.g., Box, Dropbox, Google drive) or YouTube.
Complete submission form (GT log in required)

Submission Guidelines

Promotional graphic: Opportunity to get feedback from Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students

Consult with Occupational Therapy Students

Want advice on how your concept can best support daily activities for people aging with disability? Doctoral Occupational Therapy (OT) Students from our TechSAge partner at Georgia State University’s OT Department are available to consult with your team and offer guidance on applications and designs for Stretch. Please email us at techsage@gatech.edu for more information.

Presentation by Hello Robot on Collaborating with OTs