REACH

Starting in November 2025, I rejoined NextStep Robotics as a part-time contract employee. I assisted with mechanical design and manufacturing on some of their projects, but my main goal was the complete redesign of an upper-limb rehabilitative robot, called REACH.

REACH is an impedance-controlled robot designed to help stroke survivors relearn how to use their arms. In robotics, impedance control means the robotic system acts as a mass-spring-damper, or, in other words, that it reacts to forces. This allows it to behave passively, allowing the patient to move if they are able to and only assisting as needed.

I have redesigned the mechanical and electrical system, and am actively working on improvements to the system, including a new GUI, custom PCB, and options for functional electrical stimulation (FES) integration.