Investors: Press Release
GeckoSystems' Mobile Robot Solutions Satisfy Significant Need for "Collision Proof" Wheelchairs
CONYERS, CA--(Marketwire - February 15, 2011) - GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (PINKSHEETS: GOSY), a dynamic leader in the development and usage of "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service"™ for the emerging mobile robotics industry, announced today that development of its GeckoNav™ Wheelchair Kit upgrade for power wheelchairs may have dramatic benefits for many primary caregivers and their elderly parents in assisted care facilities.
Recent Delphi methodology market research has revealed that assisted care facilities, due to liability insurance concerns, require its elderly patrons to promptly relocate at such time when their wheelchairs damage walls, furniture, and/or other persons in their facility due to poor, inadequate control. A typical power wheelchair and occupant together weigh approximately 200-350 pounds, and if badly controlled, can readily inflict traumatic physical damage to themselves and/or others in the assisted care living facility.
GeckoSystems has learned that the management at many assisted care facilities must address the harsh reality of immediate relocation. When moving an elderly care receiver to a facility capable of managing a new, higher level of care giving, the primary caregiver now has to manage not only the emotional cost of the move (further loss of independence, dignity for their parents, spouse, etc.), but the burden of a dramatic increase in the monthly monetary cost of providing safety and security for their elderly loved one.
In the foregoing scenario, upgrading with GeckoSystems' new GeckoNav™ Wheelchair Kit (GWK001), would forestall that forced relocation and its implicit emotional trauma, while paying for itself in only 2-3 months. This is a very significant market with a critically needed solution. The recent invention of the GeckoImager™ -- in unison with their many proprietary mobile robot solutions -- enables the company to cost effectively provide kits to retrofit and upgrade electric wheelchairs to be "collision proof."
"The 'collision proof' retrofit kit we are presently developing may be added to most joystick operated electric wheelchairs. The wheelchair occupant would simply move the joystick in the direction they wish to go and GeckoNav™ -- in concert with multiple GeckoSavants™ -- would automatically seek that desired direction while avoiding any and all obstacles whether stationary or moving," said GeckoSystems President/CEO Martin Spencer. "We expect the cost to the end user, completely installed, to be only a few thousand dollars for this heightened level of safety for not only the occupant of the wheelchair, but also those persons around them."
GeckoSystems recently announced that GeckoImager™ uses sensor fusion incorporating structured light machine vision and sonar range finding to compliment GeckoOrient's™ solid-state compass, accelerometer and odometry sensor fusion. This provides its automatic, self-navigation artificial intelligence (AI) software, GeckoNav™, with sufficient and timely data to achieve actionable situation awareness while providing a very safe, loose crowd level of autonomy to be "collision proof."
"The amount of data that the new GeckoImager provides is far greater than what can reasonably be collected with fixed sensors and at a much lower cost than scanning laser range finding systems that are frequently used," said Kevin O'Connor, Sr. EE Roboticist, Research and Development, GeckoSystems.
"Our new GeckoImager™ sensor fusion system not only provides timely and actionable situation awareness information sufficient for our AI navigation software, GeckoNav™, it also simultaneously satisfies those requirements at a much lower cost, in both dollars and power."
Presently, the company is continuing its market research for this business-to-business (B2B) market place using the Delphi Method. As previously announced, the recent sensor fusion breakthrough of the GeckoImager may enable some near term B2B niche retrofit markets. Potential sales forecasts for this B2B market are being developed as manufacturing costs and market size become more clearly understood.
"During the past year, our world's first in home elder care robot trials have garnered many inquiries regarding our business model, technologies available for licensing and interest in joint domestic and international ventures," said Spencer. "Our GeckoImager™ breakthrough enables some near-term B2B niche retrofit markets such as a 'collision proof' electric wheelchair. While we continue to expect technology-licensing revenues to precede revenues levels from product manufacturing and sales, this new B2B opportunity will be carefully reviewed for near-term benefits. This augurs well for increased ROI and shareholder value for our nearly 1,400 investors."
Interested manufacturers, distributors, and/or dealers inquiries welcomed at 1-866-CAREBOT (227-3268)