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TECHNOLOGY FOR CHILDREN: ROBOTEL
Robotel Turkey Project is the hope for children with congenital or subsequent limb loss. The Robotel Project continues with the contributions of TED University in Ankara.
The Robotel Turkey Project produces mechanical hands with 3D printers for children with congenital or subsequent finger and hand loss. The Project has been initiated by Zeynep Karagöz, Hakan Pakten and Serdar Okumuş in 2014. The Robotel Project is active in İstanbul since two years and the Ankara organization of the project is launched by Melis Dursun. The studies are being carried with the contribution of TED University Center of Social Innovation (Istasyon) and TEDU Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The Robotel Proeject was inspired by the international Enable Project which began with the design of a mechanical hand with congenital finger loss and developed with the worldwide support of participators. The Robotel Project developed into a national social responsibility network with over 300 volunteers. Up to today 12 robot hands have been produced under the organization of the İstanbul team and participation of the volunteers. The Robotel volunteers from Ankara gathered at TED University for a meeting hosted by the TEDU Center of Social Innovation and initiated their studies.
Robotel Ankara coordinator Melis Dursun stated, “There are many children with congenital and subsequent hand loss in our country. These children can’t use prosthesis because they grow rapidly. The prosthesis are heavy and very expensive. Most of them are not functional. Robotel is a rapid, practical and affordable solution for these children. They are customisable according to the size and function and produced with 3D printers. They are also highly functional because the broken pieces can be easily replaced.”
Center of Social Innovation director Berivan Eliş stated her content of contributing to a Project which aims social benefit for children and said, “We are proud of hosting the activities of Robotel Ankara. It is lovely that the studies of TEDU Department of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering students will render many children happy.”
Eliş also mentioned that the first design of the team will be for the 9 year old Elifsu and added, “The students would like to carry intensive research and carry the Project to different grounds. The goal is to reach as many children as we can. The fact that TED University is situated at the heart of the city is an opportunity for the families who wish to participate the meetings.”