Investors: Press Release
GeckoSystems to Enhance Japanese Wheelchairs With Mobile Robot Solutions
CONYERS, GA, May 06, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- GeckoSystems Intl. Corp, a dynamic leader in the emerging mobile robotics industry revolutionizing their development and usage with "Mobile Robot Solutions for Safety, Security and Service(TM)," (PINKSHEETS: GOSY) (http://www.geckosystems.com/) -- announced today that they expect receipt in late May of the first wheelchairs from Imasen Engineering Corporation, Japan's oldest wheelchair manufacturer. This order to upgrade was secured by GeckoSystems' long time Japanese business development representative, Mr. Hajime Yasumatsu (Chairman of Yasu, Inc.) and a recently signed representative, Mr. Tsunenuri Kato (President/CEO of ifoo Co., Ltd.). They jointly secured GeckoSystems' first Japanese order.
Due to the recent Japanese catastrophic earthquake and consequent tsunami, the shipment was initially delayed.
"We have worked diligently for more than ten years to secure a foothold in the world's fourth largest economy, Japan. Because of these many years of failures and our numerous sales attempts, I am very pleased to announce this shipment for the initial order for our 'collision proof' wheelchair upgrade kits," stated Martin Spencer, President/CEO, GeckoSystems. "We give full credit to Mr. Yasumatsu's and Kato's tenacity and hard work in achieving this noteworthy milestone. We expect receipt of one of the first two of Imasen's state of the art wheelchairs for our 'collision proof' upgrading at our R&D lab late this month since they are being shipped by economical marine freight due to their weight."
GeckoSystems recently announced that GeckoImager(TM) enables this new product development. This invention uses sensor fusion incorporating structured light machine vision and sonar range finding to compliment GeckoOrient's(TM) solid-state compass, accelerometer and odometry sensor fusion. This provides its automatic, self-navigation artificial intelligence (AI) software, GeckoNav(TM), 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 upgrade kit (GWK001) leverages core technologies GeckoSystems has developed for its flagship product, the CareBot(TM), combined with recent advances in sensor technology, to create a cost effective upgrade kit for wheelchair obstacle avoidance. The recent creation of GeckoImager and its ability to fuse multiple stationary sensors to achieve the level of situational awareness required for navigation has allowed GeckoSystems to pursue this new application.
The GWK001 recently sold to Imasen, may be added to most joystick operated electric wheelchairs. The wheelchair occupant would simply move the joystick in the direction they wish to go. Then GeckoNav -- in concert with multiple GeckoSavants(TM) managed by the GeckoSuper(TM) -- would automatically seek the desired direction while avoiding any and all stationary or moving obstacles. The cost to the end user, completely installed, is 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.
"I am very pleased to have been able to provide GeckoSystems with this initial order from Imasen. It is an honor for me to work with companies that focus on safety first, Imasen in Japan, and GeckoSystems in the U.S. I am working very hard to secure other meaningful relationships in Japan for GeckoSystems," concluded Mr. Kato.
"For more than a year now, I have engaged in many attempts to establish collaboration with GeckoSystems and good partners in Japan. I am happy and pleased that Mr. Kato has joined us. This first order from Imasen is a very important first step in demonstrating to other Japanese robot companies and enterprises the value of GeckoSystems' mobile robot solutions," reflected Mr. Yasumatsu.
"I am very excited about the opportunity to apply our extensive knowledge of autonomous navigation of mobile platforms to this new product. The benefits to the safety and peace-of-mind of both the occupant and those around them make this a very rewarding project to be a part of," stated Kevin O'Connor, Sr. EE Roboticist, GeckoSystems.
GeckoSystems has multiple sources available in the U.S. and Pacific Rim other than Microsoft for the PrimeSense depth camera solution, presently the Kinect. Since the upgraded wheelchair is more safe, not less, with the incorporation of the multiple sensor systems and AI software, product liability is expected to be less than that of an unmodified wheelchair. Since mobile service robots are not presently regulated in Japan or the U.S., no regulatory approvals such as the FDA, UL, etc. are expected. (This underscores the mobile robot safety summit meeting's importance last December of GeckoSystems' CEO and two senior Japanese government representatives. This is why they requested the meeting: to learn what safety standards were needed and how to achieve them with appropriate regulations.)
GeckoSystems' management believes that due to the increased costs of the logistics of shipping computer hardware and subsystems from halfway around the world and back again that these initial sales should evolve into a technology licensing agreement with Imasen to eliminate these redundant and unnecessary shipping costs.
"Imasen is ideally positioned in the Japanese marketplace due to its wheelchair manufacturing capability and existing distribution into the home medical equipment (HME) and durable medical equipment (DME) markets. Further, since the mechanicals and locomotion system are the primary cost drivers for the manufacture of mobile service robots, we are very encouraged by several ongoing conversations with Imasen and other notable Japanese manufacturers by Mr. Kato and Mr. Yasumatsu," opined Mr. Spencer.
Mr. Spencer concluded: "Of course due to the delicacy and sensitivity of those discussions, it would be inappropriate to reveal them at this time. However, given the demonstrable performance by Mr. Kato and Mr. Yasumatsu, I believe there is reason for continued optimism and additional successes. This important first step positions us on the cusp between being a Development Stage company and an Emerging Growth company. This reality augurs well for our nearly 1,400 stockholders and a satisfying ROI for them."
About Yasu, Inc.:
Yasu is a U.S. corporation domiciled in Missouri that provides professional services including business development support, networking events, extensive market intelligence, access to bilingual Japanese businesses, and English to Japanese translation of sales and technical information.
About Imasen Engineering Corporation:
Imasen electric wheelchairs are dedicated to the pursuit of safety and comfort, designed to be an indispensable and supportive component of one's life. They have been developed not only to be comfortable for the rider, but also easy for caretakers to operate, easy on the environment, and pleasant to look at with an attractive design.
http://www.imasengiken.co.jp/en/index.html