Iván Hernández Dalas: RBR50 Spotlight: Glidance provides independence to visually impaired individuals

rbr50 banner with a women in a crosswalk using the glidance device.

Organization: Glidance Inc.
Country: U.S.
Website: https://glidance.io/
Year Founded: 2023
Number of Employees: 2-10
Innovation Class: Application

In the U.S., around 1 million adults are blind. Yet, only 2% to 8% use a white cane for navigation. Most instead rely on guide dogs or sighted companions, according to the Perkins School for the Blind. This reliance limits independence and mobility, a challenge that Glidance, winner of the 2023 RoboBusiness Pitchfire Competition, aims to address through robotics.

rbr50 banner logo.The company’s flagship product, Glide, offers autonomous mobility assistance for the visually impaired. It incorporates advanced guiding technologies and a unique mechanical design to foster independence.

Glide’s innovation provides haptic and audio feedback for safety. The product has garnered praise from industry experts, particularly for its potential to serve an underserved market segment. CEO Amos Miller, himself blind, brings a firsthand perspective to Glidance’s mission.

The Seattle-based company plans to sell the device for about the cost of a new cell phone. It will also offer subscription plans that enable feature updates and options that will make Glide easily configurable for each user’s needs.

With a battery life of up to eight hours and quick user adaptation, Glide promises to revolutionize mobility for the visually impaired. Founded by Miller and Mike Sinclair, Glidance represents hope for those seeking greater freedom and autonomy in navigating the world.

Miller noted that more than 50,000 individuals lose their sight every year, yet worldwide there are only 10,000 working guide dogs any year. This leaves a huge gap and providing the opportunity for a device like Glide to make a huge difference in users’ lives. It can cost up to $50,000 annually to train and care for a guide dog throughout its working lifetime with a person who is blind.

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Explore the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024.

RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024

Organization Innovation
ABB Robotics Modular industrial robot arms offer flexibility
Advanced Construction Robotics IronBOT makes rebar installation faster, safer
Agility Robotics Digit humanoid gets feet wet with logistics work
Amazon Robotics Amazon strengthens portfolio with heavy-duty AGV
Ambi Robotics AmbiSort uses real-world data to improve picking
Apptronik Apollo humanoid features bespoke linear actuators
Boston Dynamics Atlas shows off unique skills for humanoid
Brightpick Autopicker applies mobile manipulation, AI to warehouses
Capra Robotics Hircus AMR bridges gap between indoor, outdoor logistics
Dexterity Dexterity stacks robotics and AI for truck loading
Disney Disney brings beloved characters to life through robotics
Doosan App-like Dart-Suite eases cobot programming
Electric Sheep Vertical integration positions landscaping startup for success
Exotec Skypod ASRS scales to serve automotive supplier
FANUC FANUC ships one-millionth industrial robot
Figure Startup builds working humanoid within one year
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics evoBot features unique mobile manipulator design
Gardarika Tres Develops de-mining robot for Ukraine
Geek+ Upgrades PopPick goods-to-person system
Glidance Provides independence to visually impaired individuals
Harvard University Exoskeleton improves walking for people with Parkinson’s disease
ifm efector Obstacle Detection System simplifies mobile robot development
igus ReBeL cobot gets low-cost, human-like hand
Instock Instock turns fulfillment processes upside down with ASRS
Kodama Systems Startup uses robotics to prevent wildfires
Kodiak Robotics Autonomous pickup truck to enhance U.S. military operations
KUKA Robotic arm leader doubles down on mobile robots for logistics
Locus Robotics Mobile robot leader surpasses 2 billion picks
MassRobotics Accelerator Equity-free accelerator positions startups for success
Mecademic MCS500 SCARA robot accelerates micro-automation
MIT Robotic ventricle advances understanding of heart disease
Mujin TruckBot accelerates automated truck unloading
Mushiny Intelligent 3D sorter ramps up throughput, flexibility
NASA MOXIE completes historic oxygen-making mission on Mars
Neya Systems Development of cybersecurity standards harden AGVs
NVIDIA Nova Carter gives mobile robots all-around sight
Olive Robotics EdgeROS eases robotics development process
OpenAI LLMs enable embedded AI to flourish
Opteran Applies insect intelligence to mobile robot navigation
Renovate Robotics Rufus robot automates installation of roof shingles
Robel Automates railway repairs to overcome labor shortage
Robust AI Carter AMR joins DHL's impressive robotics portfolio
Rockwell Automation Adds OTTO Motors mobile robots to manufacturing lineup
Sereact PickGPT harnesses power of generative AI for robotics
Simbe Robotics Scales inventory robotics deal with BJ’s Wholesale Club
Slip Robotics Simplifies trailer loading/unloading with heavy-duty AMR
Symbotic Walmart-backed company rides wave of logistics automation demand
Toyota Research Institute Builds large behavior models for fast robot teaching
ULC Technologies Cable Splicing Machine improve safety, power grid reliability
Universal Robots Cobot leader strengthens lineup with UR30

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