TORONTO and BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionik Laboratories Corp. (OTCQX:BNKL) ("Bionik" or the "Company"), a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and assistive technology solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home, today announced it has integrated Amazon's Echo ("Echo") technology and Alexa Voice Service ("Alexa") into its ARKE™ lower body exoskeleton.

The ARKE™ exoskeleton utilizes Bionik's proprietary transmission and actuation system, making it one of the most powerful robotic devices compared to similar systems. It will now include device control, utilizing multiple sensors located throughout the device in combination with Alexa. Users will be able to activate different activity modes, such as Standing and Walking, by saying "Alexa, I'm ready to stand" or "Alexa, I'm ready to walk."

Most movements – including walking and standing – are initiated by the upper body. As such, sensors in the feet, angle sensors in the joints, and inertial measurement units feel how the body weight is distributed and, combined with upper body information and movements, allow you to take a step. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to translate information from all this sensor information intelligently activates the ARKE™ for those paralyzed from the waist down, as it mimics movements that would generally allow an able person to take steps.
"We are excited to complete the integration of Amazon's Echo and Alexa into our ARKE exoskeleton, combining the power of Amazon's voice-activated technologies with our powerful assistive robotic solutions for the next evolution in treating consumer immobility," said Michal Prywata, co-founder, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Bionik. "In building ARKE, we had one goal in mind – to empower the user to take back their mobility and regain the ability to complete tasks that the rest of us deem normal, like walking to the refrigerator or going to get the mail. This pairing of our robotic technologies with the power of Amazon's Alexa further pushes the boundaries of what technology can do within the home healthcare industry, and we believe we will help many impaired individuals regain the mobility they once lost."

Bionik's current ARKE™ product is in clinical development and aimed toward use by those who have suffered a spinal cord injury or are otherwise severely impaired in their lower body due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, or some other incident. Further opportunity also exists within the aging population, approaching a billion people globally, who rely on unstable walkers or other wheeled devices for mobility.

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