Assistive devices people can build, test and use.

Basic scaffolding

Build a stationary first version with a speaker, screen, physical acknowledgement button, local schedule store and caregiver override. Add wheels only after the interaction is useful and safe.

Prototype plan

1. Interview caregivers and define non-clinical use cases.
2. Prototype reminders and escalation on a tabletop unit.
3. Add telepresence and room-to-room teleoperation.
4. Pilot in a controlled setting with privacy review.

Blueprint package

Use-case map, permissions model, data-flow diagram, enclosure CAD, wiring and power plan, offline-first software setup, accessibility checklist and caregiver test script.

Scale path

Use a common compute and power module with interchangeable displays, sensors and drive bases. Deploy per-home configuration files, signed software updates and a local service guide rather than a cloud dependency.

Basic scaffolding

Use a fixed camera, a 5-DOF arm, a physical stop button and a small approved vocabulary. Separate perception, language mapping and motion control so each can be tested independently.

Prototype plan

1. Collect consented, community-reviewed sample gestures.
2. Measure recognition offline before connecting motors.
3. Replay approved phrases through slow, bounded arm motion.
4. Run interaction studies with deaf-led partners.

Blueprint package

Dataset card, annotation rules, model evaluation notebook, arm CAD, servo limits, calibration routine, state-machine diagram, API contract and reproducible demo dataset.

Scale path

Keep the language model and robot driver replaceable. Package inference for edge hardware, add signed model versions and publish per-language evaluation instead of claiming universal translation.

Basic scaffolding

Start with a robust two-wheel chassis, ESP32 motor controller, encoder feedback, battery fuse, line sensors and a USB serial or Wi-Fi console. Make every lesson runnable without cloud services.

Prototype plan

1. Assemble a repeatable base and document wiring.
2. Teach motor control, sensing and telemetry in isolation.
3. Add mapping, obstacle avoidance and data logging.
4. Test the same lesson on two independently built units.

Blueprint package

Student build guide, instructor notes, lab safety sheet, modular BOM, pinout, firmware exercises, troubleshooting tree, assessment rubric and data-log examples.

Scale path

Standardize modules and connector keys, pre-cut common parts locally and maintain a versioned curriculum. Train instructors and publish a calibration card so multiple classrooms can maintain their own robots.

Basic scaffolding

Build a tethered catamaran or pontoon hull with a removable debris basket, guarded propellers, manual remote control, bilge protection and a visible emergency recovery line.

Prototype plan

1. Test buoyancy, stability and collection capacity in a tank.
2. Operate manually in a controlled, debris-limited area.
3. Measure motor load, battery runtime and retrieval time.
4. Add geofencing and autonomy only after operator training.

Blueprint package

Hull drawings, flotation calculation, propeller guard, collection-basket CAD, wiring and waterproofing notes, motor test procedure, operator checklist and site survey form.

Scale path

Use locally fabricable hull panels and a swappable power/drive cassette. Create a maintenance kit, define debris limits and scale through trained operators and scheduled collection routes—not unattended deployment.

Basic scaffolding

Begin with a wired tracked chassis, camera, two-way radio, bright work light, physical stop switch and protected battery. Keep the operator in control and use a training rubble course.

Prototype plan

1. Characterize traction, turning radius and tether safety.
2. Add low-bandwidth video, audio and thermal sensing.
3. Test radio range and recovery in staged obstacles.
4. Run exercises with trained responders and a spotter.

Blueprint package

Tracked chassis CAD, sensor mount, radio link budget, sealed electronics enclosure, wiring diagram, recovery procedure, operator controls and staged-course test protocol.

Scale path

Standardize a rugged core with replaceable tracks, camera pods and radio modules. Build a spares and battery program, train operators and maintain incident logs before considering real deployments.

Basic scaffolding

Start with a small matrix of mechanically actuated tactile pins, physical navigation buttons, a speaker and an offline lesson player. Keep pin force and motion bounded.

Prototype plan

1. Define a small, community-reviewed tactile vocabulary.
2. Test one pin, then a short row, before building a matrix.
3. Pair tactile output with optional audio and teacher controls.
4. Pilot short lessons with trained educators.

Blueprint package

Pin mechanism drawings, force and travel limits, enclosure CAD, lesson-file format, audio workflow, wiring, firmware state machine, cleaning guide and teacher test script.

Scale path

Use replaceable tactile modules and locally serviceable fasteners. Version lesson packs separately from hardware so schools can update content without replacing devices.

Basic scaffolding

Build a tablet or SBC station with large configurable targets, a physical switch input, local speech output and an explicit caregiver configuration mode. No cloud account is required.

Prototype plan

1. Map communication goals with a speech professional and user.
2. Test target size, spacing and switch scanning on a mock interface.
3. Add offline speech and personalized phrase sets.
4. Evaluate use in short, supervised sessions.

Blueprint package

Interaction specification, accessibility settings, enclosure and mount drawings, offline data model, export/import format, privacy notes, test protocol and language-content guide.

Scale path

Separate the input layer, phrase library and speech engine so switches, touchscreens and languages can vary. Publish configuration backups and a local setup guide.

Basic scaffolding

Use a slow linear slide, a shallow tray, mechanical end stops, a large user button and a physical stop. Keep the payload light and avoid human-body contact.

Prototype plan

1. Measure tray friction, travel and stall force on a bench.
2. Test manual controls with empty and approved objects.
3. Add current limiting and obstruction detection.
4. Run supervised reach and usability sessions.

Blueprint package

Travel and payload drawings, pinch-point map, current-limit settings, tray variants, wiring, control-state diagram, cleaning instructions and object eligibility checklist.

Scale path

Offer interchangeable trays and a common drive cassette. Manufacture simple panels locally and publish a service procedure for belts, stops, buttons and electronics.

Basic scaffolding

Start with a fixed, mains- or USB-powered enclosure, particulate and climate sensors, local display and removable storage. Add mobility only if room coverage justifies it.

Prototype plan

1. Compare sensor readings with a reference instrument.
2. Record drift, warm-up time and data gaps.
3. Test a privacy-preserving room dashboard.
4. Map fixed locations before testing a mobile base.

Blueprint package

Sensor placement guide, calibration routine, enclosure CAD, sampling configuration, data schema, dashboard setup, uncertainty notes and cleaning procedure.

Scale path

Deploy identical nodes with signed configuration and local buffering. Use a documented calibration schedule and site-specific thresholds rather than one universal health claim.

Basic scaffolding

Build a manually driven or line-guided narrow rover with protected camera, wheel encoders, GNSS logging and a removable battery. Avoid spraying, cutting or autonomous decisions.

Prototype plan

1. Measure ground clearance, traction and row alignment.
2. Capture repeatable images at a fixed height and speed.
3. Validate labels with agronomists before adding models.
4. Compare records across one small test plot.

Blueprint package

Row-width envelope, wheel and chassis drawings, camera mount, lighting notes, data schema, field protocol, annotation guide, weather limits and maintenance checklist.

Scale path

Use a common drive base with crop-specific mounts and offline data export. Train operators to inspect and repair units locally; scale observations before scaling autonomy.

Basic scaffolding

Use a rigid bench, replaceable fixture plates, load cell, displacement sensor, emergency stop and a low-voltage controller. Test components, never people, in the first phase.

Prototype plan

1. Calibrate force and displacement channels.
2. Define one repeatable load and duty cycle.
3. Automate logging and stop on out-of-range values.
4. Compare two components with the same fixture.

Blueprint package

Fixture CAD, sensor calibration files, wiring, test scripts, data schema, uncertainty notes, load-case definitions, operator checklist and report template.

Scale path

Publish interchangeable fixtures and versioned test recipes so multiple labs can reproduce results. Keep raw data and analysis code separate from conclusions.

Basic scaffolding

Provide a fused low-voltage controller, keyed connectors, tactile labels, large switches, simple motors and a printed or laser-cut base. Keep exposed energy and moving force low.

Prototype plan

1. Observe a learner assembling one module without assistance.
2. Revise connector force, labels and instructions.
3. Add switch, keyboard and serial input alternatives.
4. Pilot one lesson with an inclusive educator.

Blueprint package

Module CAD, connector key, pinout, lesson cards, large-print and screen-reader documentation, safety guide, BOM alternatives and facilitator observation sheet.

Scale path

Standardize modules, locally source consumables and train facilitators. Publish a compatibility matrix so schools can repair or extend kits without a proprietary ecosystem.

Basic scaffolding

Start with a slow tabletop conveyor, guarded drive, large stop buttons and manual category controls. Keep the operator in charge and exclude hazardous materials from tests.

Prototype plan

1. Document workflow and occupational hazards with workers.
2. Run the conveyor manually with empty approved items.
3. Add one sensor and log uncertain classifications.
4. Evaluate time, fatigue and error with worker oversight.

Blueprint package

Guarding drawings, conveyor interface, interlock wiring, category taxonomy, data policy, maintenance plan, training guide and hazard-control checklist.

Scale path

Scale by workflow modules, not a fully autonomous line. Publish serviceable guards, spare parts and worker-approved changes before adding any actuation.