Today, 3D printing applications in the disability sector are diverse, covering areas such as the manufacture of customized prostheses, custom hearing aids, and even adapted vehicles. The Parisian start-up Artha France, in partnership with Sculpteo, a major player in 3D printing in France, has recently successfully completed the testing phase of an innovative device. This product aims to improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments. It consists of a lumbar belt equipped with a camera, which can be discreetly attached to glasses. Since 2020, 140 individuals have participated in trials in various contexts, such as using a computer, driving a car and navigating the streets of Paris. This promising advance could represent a valuable solution for increasing the independence of those affected.
Artha France aims to make its innovation accessible to all, while ensuring that quality and performance are maintained. This initiative has resulted in the manufacture of a lumbar belt using 3D printing technology. We had the opportunity to talk to Louis de Veron, co-founder of Artha France, to learn more about this breakthrough and understand how 3D printing is helping to support people with disabilities.
3DN: Can you introduce yourself and tell us about Artha France?
Artha France is a company dedicated to creating innovative technological solutions to improve the lives of visually impaired and blind people. Our project goes beyond simple innovation; it represents a real revolution for those who depend on their tactile and auditory senses to perceive the world around them. Our vision is to build a future where autonomy and sensory perception are not limited by vision. We want to enable blind and visually impaired people to develop a whole new perception of their environment, gain independence in their movements, and enhance their daily safety.
We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to live life to the fullest, regardless of their visual condition. Our technology has already achieved several important milestones, including initial testing of a fully mechanical prototype, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and experiments on movement and orientation in virtual environments. We have even conducted car driving tests to test the limits of the device.
3DN: Can you explain in detail how the lumbar belt works for visually impaired and blind people?
The Artha France lumbar belt is a key component of our innovative technology. It works by transforming visual images captured by a mini camera mounted on standard glasses into tactile representations. A mini camera attached to the user’s glasses captures images of the immediate environment. This camera is designed to detect objects and obstacles around the user. The captured images are then processed to be converted into tactile information based on depth perception. Instead of presenting color images, our technology uses depth variations to represent the environment, similar to a black and white screen where variations in brightness are replaced by variations in depth.
Once the images have been processed, the data is transmitted to a special lumbar belt worn by the user. This belt is equipped with mechanisms that exert gentle pressure on the user’s skin to create an “image” of the environment. The user perceives this image through the sense of touch. The belt generates a spatial representation of surrounding objects and obstacles, allowing the user to feel them. The technology is designed to be intuitive and adaptable to the specific needs of each user. It can be configured and customized via a mobile app, giving users or healthcare professionals the ability to adjust settings based on each user’s individual characteristics. In addition, a crucial feature of the belt is its ability to filter and select the tactile information to be transmitted. This allows the user’s brain to focus on relevant information while ignoring less crucial information, thereby reducing cognitive overload.
3DN: Why did you choose 3D printing over traditional manufacturing techniques? What advantages does it offer in the context of this project?
The use of 3D printing for Artha France’s lumbar belt project was chosen for two main reasons: significant cost reduction and flexibility in the development and testing process. One of the most notable advantages of 3D printing for this project is the considerable reduction in manufacturing costs. In fact, 3D printing has proven to be more than 10 times cheaper than traditional manufacturing techniques. This saving is particularly relevant for an innovative project such as the lumbar belt, where cost control is crucial to making the technology accessible to a wider range of users.
Another major advantage is the speed with which changes can be made and tested using this technology. With 3D printing, it is possible to go from simply having an idea to modify the structure to having the part available in less than 24 hours. This flexibility is essential in the development process, especially for a technological product where rapid iterations and testing are fundamental to refining and optimizing design and functionality. 3D printing also allows for a high degree of component customization, which is particularly useful for adapting the lumbar belt to the specific needs of each user.
It facilitates rapid prototyping, allowing designers and engineers to quickly test various configurations, shapes and materials. This speeds up the development process and provides valuable feedback on the functionality and ergonomics of the product. Finally, 3D printing can also be more sustainable, as it reduces waste by producing only the amount of material needed, without surplus. In summary, 3D printing offers a combination of cost reduction, speed, flexibility and customization that is perfectly suited to the unique requirements of Artha France’s lumbar belt project.
3DN: What 3D printing process and materials do you use to create your belts?
For the manufacture of lumbar belts, Artha France outsources 3D printing to Sculpteo, using TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) for its flexibility and robustness. This approach allows us to produce belts that are flexible, durable, and comfortable for the user, while benefiting from Sculpteo’s expertise and rapid production capabilities.
3DN: Any final words for our readers?
Don’t hesitate to make numerous iterations in your projects. It is often much faster and more efficient to test an idea directly rather than spending a lot of time on lengthy studies to find out if it will work. Experimentation and learning through trial and error are key components of innovation.
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