Robo-Rehab - Robotics Physiotherapy Startup
- Nirav Shah
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
As part of a medical robotics startup incubated at IIT Bombay and funded with $60,000 via BIG grant of Govt. of India, I participated in development of innovative physiotherapy system to assist hand, arm, and leg rehabilitation treatment. My role encompassed comprehensive market research, involving interviews with physiotherapists across Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad to establish key business elements such as value propositions, customer discovery, cost structure, and revenue streams. This research was instrumental in defining our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy.
I led a team of seven mechatronics engineers in designing and fabricating electronic-actuator systems, utilizing SolidWorks and Eagle software, while coordinating with mechanical and PCB manufacturing vendors to bring our MVP to life and secure our first five customers.
Some CAD designs that we brainstormed on and were designed by the mechanical team on SolidWorks -
System Architecture for Arm and Knee devices
System PCB design with an Arduino Nano, LM2596 Buck Converter (12/24 to 5V), 3.3V, 5V, and 6V voltage converters, Bluetooth, motor and clutch controls, encoder, and flex sensor.
A significant technical achievement was the innovation of a flexible coupling coupled to a flex sensor and a DC motor, capable of measuring limb force from 0 to 5 kN. This was accomplished through rigorous application of Design of Experiments and Statistical Process Control techniques, including control charts, capability analysis, and failure detection and correction methods, resulting in an impressive 95% accuracy rate.
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