To Walk Again: the SAM Suit Saga
Victor Gao, Chief Marketing Officer of Arrow Electronics, discusses the development of the SAM car and the SAM suit, exoskeleton technologies created for quadriplegic former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt. Gao explains how the team repurposed semi-autonomous driving sensors and edge computing for the SAM suit to enable Schmidt to dance at his daughter's wedding, while also detailing the technical challenges of balancing a paralyzed user in 3D space. The episode highlights the transition from high-speed vehicular mobility to personal mobility, noting that the technology is being made available to vetted partners to improve quality of life for others with mobility restrictions.