Dec 18 2012
RE2, Inc. announced today that the Company has donated a Robotic Nursing Assistant (RNA) assistive healthcare robot to The University of Texas at Arlington's Research Institute. The donation, valued at $850,000, was announced today at the official launch of the UT Arlington Research Institute's Assistive Robotics Lab. RE2 President and CEO, Jorgen Pedersen, was in attendance to officially gift the RNA robot to the university.
The gift marks a significant partnership between RE2, Inc. and UT Arlington Research Institute, which re-launched this summer with a mission of becoming a global leader in the development of advanced technology to help humanity. The institute aims to translate existing technologies particularly for use by wounded veterans, aging populations and workers who must lift and move heavy objects. More information is available at www.uta.edu/utari/.
The RNA was originally developed by RE2, Inc. under a Small Business Innovation Research program with the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). The goal of the program was to help nurses move and maneuver patients in a hospital setting. These maneuvers include assisting a patient from a lying to a sitting position, from a sitting to a standing position, or from a bed to a chair. Back injuries are the most common type of injury in the nursing field. Additionally, nurses are working longer hours and patients are getting heavier, compounding the problem. The RNA is intended to act as the "muscle" for the nurse to prevent these types of injuries, while still giving the nurse complete control over the motion and interaction with the patient.
"RE2 is committed to working with national research universities like UT Arlington to enhance robotics education and advance mobile manipulation research," stated Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2. "The RNA robot is in line with UTARI's mission and will enable institute staff to perform additional advanced research in the area of assistive healthcare."
"RE2 has played a critical role in developing robots and robotic manipulation systems that have reduced the risks faced by our military servicemen and women," said Rick Lynch, a retired Army lieutenant general and executive director of the UT Arlington Research Institute. "The RNA robot can easily be adapted for a myriad of civilian uses and put to work to help us all live better lives."