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The first design drawings were created. Originally the project was aimed at creating an advanced gripper assembly for a robot system used in an artificial intelligence experiment. The original robot was built from a kit from CrustCrawler Inc.. The AI system was based on the EBLA program from the doctoral thesis of Brian Pangburn.
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AI project ends, research done on the advanced gripper is continued as an exoskeleton hand/prosthesis
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Met with Thomas Hooker (Patent Attorney) at Hooker & Habib, P.C. to determine the best course of action to protecting my prosthesis design.
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Proof of Concept tests were carried out on the material with compressed air to cooling the device.
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A United States Provisional Patent was filed through the patent attorney firm Hooker & Habib, P.C.
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The first motor design was implemented and tested. After three movements the motor failed. This design was abandoned and a new design was started.
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The technology was demonstrated for MacJulian Lang the Chief Clinical Officer for Advanced Arm Dynamics Inc. Mac has remained an important resource in designing the prosthesis.
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A new motor design was built and tested with no failures.
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Demonstrated the technology to Ret. Colonel Scoville, administrator of the Occupational Therapy Ward at Walter Reed Medical Center.
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To accomodate users better, the motor was redesigned into a smaller package to allow greater mobility.
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Met with Mr. Hooker of Hooker & Habib, P.C. and discussed filing a Patent Cooperation Treaty.
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Patent Search Carried out by Hooker & Habib, P.C.
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Design updated to include feedback and design changes from presentation to Col. Scoville
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Demonstrated the device to Dawn Halfaker, then Vice President (Currently President) of the Wounded Warrior Program
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Extended Patent Pending Status of Design for an additional 18 months before filing a US Patent
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Vulcan Technologies is founded as a legal placeholder to hold the intellectual property, apply for grants, partner with different institutions and to develop and commercialize the prosthesis
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A computer system was tested on a small length of nitinol wire to determine operating characteristics and control signal magnitudes for a different range of motions. Nitinol Test Bed Video
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Through this meeting a plan for commercialization was realized. Mr. Plackis-Cheng begins to advise how to build Vulcan Technologies to fully realize the prosthesis idea.
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The first prototype finger was completed and tested on this date in preperation for meetings in April. The finger demonstrated an disproportionate index finger with one independent and two dependent degrees of freedom. The design demonstrated key aspects of computer control and the cooling system but did not allow for complex control and was subsequently abandoned. First Prototype Video
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Dr. Walcyzk is starting reserach on creating a rapidly prototyped hand prosthesis
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Met with Dr. Tom Duerig CEO of Nitinol Development Corporation and demonstrated my technology. Garnered feedback to adjust the design of the prototype.
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A test was conducted to determine which diameter of wire could cool faster. Through tests it was found the wire diameter needed to be reduced to cool quick enough for fine motor movement. Cooling Test
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Demonstrated the cuff and used to determine how to attach the material Vulcan Motor Video
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The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization issed a preliminary report accepting all claims in the patent filed on 7/6/2011
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The hand prototype is completed and tested. The prototype demonstrates a thumb and index finger with no lateral movement. The hand is capable of moving its fingers into position for a "lateral pinch" and capable of holding small objects including a pen and razor. Prototype Demo Video
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Demonstrated the hand prototype to the OT ward at Walter Reed creating closer ties to enhance the design of the new prototype.
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Adam Brooks becomes a Master of Science Candidate with Thesis at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Vulcan Places a close fourth in the annual Serverino Center Business Plan Competition
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First attempt at a prototype using rapid prototype techniques, process fouled tracks for wires, unable to complete a functional device.
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Vulcan Competes in the New York Business Plan Competition. CEO Adam Brooks makes contact with German Michalysyn, fellow entreprenuer in Argentina.
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RPI formally relinquishes all claim to Vulcan Patents.
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Vulcan wins a development grant to continue work on the technology at RPI. The $5K grant was given with the caveat the company becomes a pilot company in the new Foundry Incubator Program at RPI.
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The then current design was not viable due to turbulent flow, The design needed to be altered to supply coolant axially and not radially.
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A redesigned air motor was fully built. This system was never fully tested due to air seal issues. This design marks the end of forced air based systems.
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Research starts in the use of heat pipes after meeting with Dr. Jensen Professor of Thermodynamics at RPI.
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Meeting with ECOPC pricipals, executive board expresses interest in investing pending a successful proof of concept device.
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Chance meeting with Stephen Rock from the Center for Automation Technology and Systems (CATS) at RPI.
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Meeting with Craig Dory (Assistant Director of RPI CATS program). Vulcan submits application to Director John Wen to join the CATS/EVE (Emerging Ventures Ecosystem) program as a beta company.
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Pending Vulcan's successful filing as a foreign held LLC in NY State.
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A fully conductive based system is devised and tested using physics modelling software. Work begins on proof of concept devices to establish efficacy.
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Vulcan enters with the help of German Michalysyn in the RIT Preseed Workshop.
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Using easily obtained materials, the cooling system is verified. Work begins on an optimized finger segment to test theoretical transmission systems
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