Revolutionary Hero Pro: The World's First Detachable Crawling Bionic Arm
Open Bionics’ Hero Pro redefines prosthetics with a wireless, waterproof bionic arm that detaches to crawl independently, offering twice the speed and strength of competitors.
Bristol-based startup Open Bionics has unveiled the Hero Pro, a groundbreaking bionic arm that redefines prosthetic capabilities. This revolutionary device can operate wirelessly while detached from the wearer's body and even crawl across surfaces independently. The Hero Pro combines unprecedented mobility with advanced waterproof technology, making it significantly faster and stronger than competing bionic hands on the market.
Wireless Control Through MyoPod Technology
The Hero Pro's remarkable capabilities stem from its innovative MyoPods™ – waterproof EMG electrodes that detect muscle signals through the skin without requiring physical connection to the prosthetic hand. These wireless sensors can be placed anywhere on the user's arm, giving prosthetists exceptional flexibility in socket design without compromising comfort or functionality.
Each MyoPod is IP67 water-resistant and can operate for up to three days on a single charge, recharging wirelessly on an included charging pad. The system features intelligent sensitivity adjustment that adapts to user fatigue throughout the day, while the companion Sidekick App allows customization of control schemes and progress tracking.
The First Self-Crawling Prosthetic Hand
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Hero Pro is its ability to function when completely detached from the user. By pressing a button on the arm, wearers can remove the bionic hand while maintaining full control through the wireless MyoPod sensors.
Tilly Lockey, a 19-year-old who lost both hands to meningitis as a toddler, demonstrates this capability by controlling the detached hand as it crawls across surfaces. "I could just pull it out like that but I can still operate it when it's not attached... It could just go on its own missions which is kind of crazy," Lockey explains.
Despite its advanced mobility features, the Hero Pro maintains impressive functional specs – supporting up to 57 pounds and closing fingers in just 0.6 seconds, making it twice as fast and strong as many competing products.
Fully Waterproof Design
The Hero Pro achieves an IPX7 rating, allowing submersion up to 3 feet underwater for 30 minutes. Unlike competitors that may offer limited water resistance, Open Bionics has created a completely waterproof system encompassing the hand, wrist, arm, and EMG electrodes when paired with their Hero FLEX socket and MyoPods.
This fully sealed electronic system eliminates the need for protective covers during water activities, addressing a major limitation of traditional electronic prosthetics. Combined with touchscreen-compatible fingertips and 360-degree rotating wrists, the Hero Pro brings unprecedented versatility to prosthetic technology.
As Lockey notes: "No other arm is wireless and waterproof, and it's faster than everything else and it's still the lightest bionic hand."