The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL) and Open Bionics have been recognized as two of the world’s most innovative companies of 2016 by Fast Company magazine. In total, 350 companies in 35 sectors were recognized.
JHU APL received a ranking of fifth out of ten companies recognized in the healthcare sector “for building the bionic man, one arm at a time.” Fast Company specifically recognized JHU APL for its work on the neurally controlled Modular Prosthetic Limb, whose development was funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of its Revolutionizing Prosthetics program.
Open Bionics also received a ranking of fifth out of ten companies in the robotics sector “for manufacturing bionic arms faster and cheaper than ever.” Open Bionics offers open-source plans and instructions to make inexpensive prosthetic and robotic hands via 3D printing and off-the-shelf parts.