New York: A new robotic arm to help disabled diners to feed themselves has been created in the USA. The Obi comprises an arm and serving tray that can be programmed to reach a user’s mouth at any angle thanks to a “teach me” mode that can memorise the “route” from plate to mouth.
The serving tray is split into four bowls, and the spoon attached to the arm can be customised to suit the user’s needs. For those who have some motor skills, buttons are available to select which bowl they would like take each mouthful from. The bowls and spoon that form the Obi unit are also all dishwasher friendly. The device, which costs more than $4,000, has been designed to give those with physical disabilities the opportunity to feed themselves again.