StarGrip is an ESA BIC start-up which developed a wearable technology that allows users to intuitively and swiftly control electronic devices using hand gestures. The ESA BIC Hungary programme played a crucial role in helping them organise their thoughts, expand their network within the industry, and connect with key players.
The product of StarGrip interprets signals from muscle activity in the hands and fingers, detected by wearable sensor nets on the forearm, with high precision through artificial intelligence. Imagine if a doctor had to operate in a helmet and a thick rubber glove, a situation that would make it difficult for an average person to open a bottle of water. Astronauts, constrained by bulky equipment, face challenges in manipulating intricate tools. StarGrip aims to enable intuitive control of precision instruments even in such restrictive environments.
Towards space
The team’s motivation for joining the ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) programme stems from the potential impact of their innovation in space exploration. “We need to preserve the Earth’s natural treasures in the best possible condition, while ensuring the growth of the human race both spiritually and physically, and we want to help this process,” explained Gergely Márton, co-founder of StarGrip. The team sees immense business opportunities in the space sector, anticipating a technological boom in the coming decades. With their medical and engineering backgrounds, co-founders Gergely Márton and János Rokai bring an innovative approach to the market. After studying to be a doctor and learning computer programming as a hobby, János became fascinated by AI. He wrote his doctoral thesis combining these two disciplines. Gergely followed the opposite path: he studied mechanical engineering and then obtained his PhD in neuroscience.
Future projects
Looking ahead, their focus is on targeting the potential applications of their solution in the space sector, followed by expansion into other potential markets. “After the successful incubation in the ESA BIC, StarGrip will have many opportunities to be further explored, both at national and international levels, like for example in the HUNOR programme or in the ESA Human and Robotic Exploration programmes”, says Jozsef Kelemen, the ESA BIC Hungary manager.
The team is also exploring opportunities in other domains, like tele-medicine or industrial factories.
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