Dining with DIGNITY

Eating is one of life’s great pleasures, but this isn’t the case for millions of people and we don’t think that’s right. We feel everyone deserves access to an independent and empowering dining experience.

This mission has led us to create Obi, the first robotic dining companion of its kind.

Obi is the first of its kind, revolutionary dining device for individuals who lack upper extremity function. This robotic arm provides physically disabled people more independence at the dinner table.

Obi is a table top robot that helps people suffering from conditions such as ALS or cerebral palsy to eat on their own.

Obi accommodates a spectrum of people who have difficulty feeding themselves. Diners should possess the ability to safely, and successfully, operate Obi as well as the ability to chew and swallow without assistance.

Obi gives the diner control over food selection and delivery by automating the motion of a human arm during eating. Through the use of the robotic arm, the device becomes an extension of the user, conducting their intent of what and when to eat.

With the momentary touch of a switch, Obi allows users to select between four compartments of food and to command when the food is captured and delivered to their mouth.

Working of Obi

After the food is divided into Obi's separate bowls, the user is able to control the rest.

It is equipped with two buttons that can be operated by the hands or feet.

One button tells Obi to select a different food, and the other commands it to bring the food to the users mouth.

The arm is manually positioned then knows to return to that position to feed the dinner.

Sufferers of disabilities now have the pleasure of eating their meals at the same time as their family.

• Amputation
• Cerebral Palsy
• Essential Tremor
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Spinal Cord Injury

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  (ALS)
• Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC)
• Other conditions impairing upper extremity