00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30They're exoskeletons, and this year they have a new model that they want to share with us.
00:34So here to tell you more, I'd like to welcome to the stage Eric and Megan.
00:39German Bionics.
00:42All right.
00:45All right. Hello, everyone.
00:48So we are German Bionic.
00:51We just recently made our global debut of our healthcare exoskeleton,
00:56but I wanted to take you back a little bit in time to tell you a little bit about German
01:01Bionic, who we are.
01:02So we're a German-founded company.
01:04We have offices all throughout Europe and now the U.S. and Japan as well.
01:09We got started basically with the mission to save workers and protect them from injuries,
01:16and how we did that was through our exoskeleton technology and safety analytics software.
01:22We got our start with a device called the Cray-X,
01:30but earlier this year at CES in Las Vegas, we launched our device, the Apogee.
01:36It looks very similar to the one that my colleague Eric is wearing,
01:39but it was for the logistics sector.
01:41So we really got our start in the logistics sector.
01:45Oh, sorry.
01:47We got our start in the logistics sector,
01:49really helping people that are working in warehouses,
01:52having to lift heavy boxes, doing pallets.
01:55And so this is the device that we launched earlier in January,
01:58so I'll let you watch this quick video.
02:24All right.
02:25So the Apogee basically works by using two motors on either side of the device.
02:31The motors work with a gyroscope in the back that has sensors
02:36and can sense your relativity to the ground.
02:38So when Eric bends over and then comes back up,
02:41the sensors are following his movements,
02:43and the motors are basically turning him back up to that upright position,
02:48and it's taking about 30 kilograms off of the weight that he's lifting every lift.
02:53So I'll just show you some examples.
03:02So here are a couple of use cases of the logistics sector.
03:05People using the devices to change tires on cars, to palletize.
03:11Even in construction, people are using the device to save their backs and prevent injuries.
03:16So basically, in the pandemic, we were gotten a lot of inquiries from healthcare workers and nurses
03:24who are having to do a lot of lifting of their patients,
03:27and they were reaching out to us and saying,
03:30hey, we're also doing heavy lifting.
03:32What can you do to help me?
03:33So our very smart and talented R&D team started doing research and surveys into that vertical,
03:41and that's how the Apogee Plus was born,
03:44and that is the device that Eric is wearing right now.
03:47So let me just...
03:50So the world premiere.
03:54So the Apogee Plus was born basically from the same technology,
03:58from the logistics sector exoskeleton,
04:00still provides 30 kilograms of lifting support,
04:03and uses the motors and the sensors in the back to help nurses
04:08when they're having to lift patients,
04:10move patients from wheelchairs to beds,
04:13when they're having to also bathe patients.
04:16There's another feature of the device called static mode.
04:20When nurses have to do prolonged bending,
04:23there's also a feature on the device
04:25where it basically has holding Eric in a hanging position like he's in a harness.
04:30So this comes in handy when nurses are having to do prolonged bending
04:33for a long period of time,
04:35and that's basically, again, taking the strain off of their lower back.
04:39Similar technology to how we're saving their backs for lifting,
04:43the prolonged bending is also being saved.
04:48All right.
04:50So again, just a couple of examples on the slides here
04:53of how the device can be used.
04:55Moving patients into and out of beds.
04:59The handles on the device also help the patients with the nurses.
05:03So as they're being pulled up,
05:05they can hold on to the handles on the back of the device
05:07and help the nurses and guide themselves back up.
05:11And here's an example of one of the hospitals
05:15that we worked with in early developments.
05:18They've given us a lot of nice feedback,
05:20and we've been able to work with the nurses
05:22to make sure that the device is designed properly for them.
05:25We've also changed some of the colors on this one.
05:28We've found that it's a little less intrusive than the black,
05:31sort of fits in a little bit better
05:33as they're going in into their scrubs.
05:35It's just easier to get on
05:37and easier for the patients to feel more comfortable around them.
05:42Yeah.
05:43And I think that's it.
05:45Any questions?
05:48Yes.
05:50Yes.
05:50Okay.
05:51I'll have a question for you.
05:52All right.
05:53All right.
05:53So this, if I understand correctly,
05:55so this is a direct response to inquiries you had during COVID
06:00coming from the care sector.
06:02Is that right?
06:03Yeah, absolutely.
06:03I think during COVID we saw the strain that was being put on nurses
06:07working long, tireless hours, and they wanted help.
06:11And a lot of them actually reached out to us.
06:14So it was kind of a combined effort of us seeing the problem
06:16and them also reaching out to us.
06:20and maybe I can add that it was like a very good moment for us
06:24because there was a big research project starting.
06:27Yeah, it speaks really into the mind.
06:28There was a big research project starting at that time
06:31at the Charité in Berlin.
06:33So we started doing like really groundwork research for this thing here
06:37and it was just like perfect timing.
06:41So what, I mean, the people who were,
06:43I mean, what sector were contacting you in particular?
06:47Was this like the private healthcare sector?
06:49I mean, was it like care homes or was it hospitals or?
06:52No, so when we started producing these exoskeletons,
06:57we had a focus on industrial production and logistics.
07:01And during the pandemic, it was just like so obvious
07:04that other like critical infrastructure also needs support.
07:09So we just thought they also could need some technical support,
07:13not only more money and better working conditions.
07:16Okay.
07:16Have you actually sold units to hospitals?
07:20Or is this still a prototype?
07:22No, this is like a serial production,
07:25but it's day one.
07:26We just released it today.
07:28So no, we haven't sold anyone today.
07:30Okay.
07:31But it's one day, right?
07:33Maybe tonight.
07:37Okay, you're going to auction this now.
07:40All right.
07:41Okay.
07:41Well, thank you very much.
07:43German Baranek.
07:45Thank you.
07:49Jean Chen?
07:52No, petit time?
07:53Trois minutes?
07:54Okay.
07:55Three minutes and then we'll be back.
07:56Thank you.
07:57Thank you.
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