VilPower: A helping hand in collaboration with Together Tech

A groundbreaking project with a big impact 

Vilje Bionics is a Norwegian startup that is developing a bionic arm, an exoskeleton arm, for people with reduced mobility. Unlike prostheses, which replace a lost body part, this solution acts as an augmentation of the user’s own arm. By sensing and amplifying the user’s movements, the exoskeleton arm can significantly improve the mobility and quality of life of those who use it. 

Together Tech is responsible for developing the app that is used to configure and customize the exoskeleton arm based on each user’s specific needs and preferences. The app is a medically classified product and plays a crucial role in making the user experience as smooth and efficient as possible.

How the collaboration started

Vilje Bionics came into contact with Together Tech through a mutual connection to Nordic Brain Tech, another Norwegian Medtech startup, which is also a customer of Together Tech. Since Vilje Bionics had previously heard good things about Together Tech's work, a dialogue was initiated that led to the current collaboration. 

- The app plays a crucial role in making VilPower – an advanced high-tech product – both intuitive and user-friendly. Here, TogetherTech's expertise in app development for medical devices has been invaluable. The team we collaborate with is not only professionally skilled and committed, but also a pleasure to work with. 

Asmund Kvam Kollbye, Product Manager at Vilje

The technology behind the exoskeleton arm

The exoskeleton arm is attached to the outside of the body and is equipped with four support motors located at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. When the user begins a movement, the arm senses this and amplifies the movement through advanced algorithms. 

Through the app that Together Tech is developing, the user can adjust various parameters such as sensitivity and movement speed. This allows the exoskeleton arm to be calibrated to each individual's unique needs, providing a more natural and functional experience.

Development phase and technical challenges

The development of the app has been ongoing and has now reached a phase where a UX prototype is almost complete. Since it is a medical device, a large part of the initial development time has been devoted to documentation and regulatory compliance to ensure that the product meets the requirements of the MDR (Medical Device Regulation). 

The Together Tech team developing the app consists of a UX designer responsible for user experience and design, a Lead Software Developer responsible for technical development and documentation, a Project Manager/Business Manager and, if necessary, a Senior Advisor with expertise in medical device product development. The app is classified as a Class 1 medical device, which means that it can be self-certified.

Part of the development team at Together Tech

A dynamic and inspiring collaboration

The collaboration between Vilje Bionics and Together Tech is an exciting and educational process. Despite the teams being geographically dispersed, with Vilje Bionics in Norway and Together Tech in Sweden, communication has worked smoothly. Regular meetings and workshops have been held both in Oslo and in the Netherlands, where the Dutch partner companies have also been involved. 

- It is very fun to work with a startup that has such a strong vision and drive. Despite being located in different countries, the collaboration has worked very well and we look forward to seeing how the product is received by the market, says Annika von Hofsten, project manager at Together Tech, in a comment.