Highlights
UTA Researchers Patent Technology for Smart Seat
Cushion, Adaptable Prosthetics
The University of Texas at Arlington
has patented a smart seat cushion
that uses changes in air pressure to
redistribute body weight and help
prevent the painful ulcers caused
by sitting for long periods of time in
a wheelchair.
The same technology can be used
to create prosthetic liners that
adapt their shape to accommodate
changes in body volume during the
day and maintain a comfortable fit
for the prosthesis. Poor prosthetic
fit can cause skin damage and
create sores in the residual limb of
the wearer.
“Pressure ulcers caused by long
periods of sitting without relieving
pressure at boney regions such
as the tailbone, frequently occur
in people who spend significant
amount of time on wheelchairs. In
the case of prosthesis users, poor
fitting of the prosthesis leads to
pressure injuries for amputees
that can severely affect their daily
life,” said Muthu Wijesundara, co-
inventor of the technology and
chief research scientist at UTA’s
Research Institute or UTARI.
“Our technology improves on
existing solutions by including
real-time pressure monitoring and
automated pressure modulation
capabilities to help combat the
formation of pressure ulcers or
sores.”
Cloud 9 Perception Dreaming Big as Pioneer in Robotics Automation
Cloud 9 Perception Dreaming Big as
Pioneer in Robotics Automation
The dream of UT Arlington
graduates James Staud and
Christopher McMurrough of
starting up Cloud 9 Perception
began in a garage right here in The
American Dream City. Today, the
company has quickly progressed
and expanded to a large office
space, along with a full team
of engineers and developers
to help companies streamline
complex workflows with 3D vision
technology.
“There’s so much growth and so
much potential here,” McMurrough
said. “It is a great place to start a
Texas at Arlington in 2008, 2010,
business and a great place to live and and 2013. He is a Senior Lecturer
work.”
at the school, helping to foster the
creativity and develop the dreams
Staud and McMurrough have been
working on automation and robotics of students looking to work in his
current industry.
since 2005. The duo continues
to put technology to work by
developing machine vision solutions
for industrial environments. These
large-scale robotics are able to move
materials around, performing actions
like unloading items from a truck,
moving things from a conveyor belt,
or adding items to shelves inside a
store.
McMurrough received his B.S., M.S.,
and Ph.D. degrees in Computer
Engineering from The University of
“The American Dream to me is to
be able to do whatever it is that
you love to do,” McMurrough said.
“I’m definitely living that here in
Arlington with this company and
also being able to educate people
down the street at UTA.”
For more information about Cloud
9 Perception, please visit www.
cloud9perception.com or call (817)
381-9233.