Researchers at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), an institute under the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of Health Sciences and part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, were awarded up to $41.5 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop the Robotic Assisted Mobility and Manipulation Platform (RAMMP) system, officials announced on Nov. 4, 2025. HERL will lead a team using next-generation robotics and new assistive technology to reimagine a wheelchair and assistive robotic arm that will improve the independence, safety and quality of life for people with disabilities, including veterans.
The project’s coprincipal investigators are Rory Cooper, director of HERL and Distinguished Professor of Rehabilitation Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, and Jorge Candiotti, associate professor of physical medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh, and research biomedical engineer, within HERL and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
RAMMP will integrate advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, a novel operating system, and digital twin technology through the Robotic Assistive Mobility Manipulation Simulation (RAMMS) environment, a virtual platform that enables precise, safe and scalable testing and development within realistic simulated settings.
“Most powered wheelchairs aren’t designed to overcome many of the common challenges in the real world—and changing the environment to accommodate them is nearly impossible,” said Cooper. “We need smarter technology that prevents tipping and falling, improves mobility and adds more function such as coordinated mobility and robotic arm manipulation of objects so people with disabilities can fully participate in everyday life.”
The RAMMP system will advance the design of powered mobility and manipulation devices by improving their function, obstacle detection and negotiation and seamless integration with robotic arms for more effective object interaction. Its real-time 360° environmental awareness and adaptive control features will allow users to navigate complex environments with enhanced capabilities, confidence and safety.
“We are redesigning everything from the ground up,” Cooper said. “In terms of the seating system, the base, its robotic arm, the control system, the mechanical design, the operating system —everything will be new.”
HERL received this landmark award—the first from ARPA-H to Pitt as its lead—in recognition of its pioneering work in advanced mobility technology. HERL previously developed the Mobility Enhancement Robotic Wheelchair (MEBot), a robotic wheelchair capable of autonomously climbing curbs and stairs and maintaining a stable, level seat using six independently controlled wheels and onboard sensors.
Each year, more than 100,000 wheelchair-related injuries are treated in U.S. emergency departments due to tips and falls. To directly address these safety issues, RAMMP will apply Participatory Action Design and Engineering (PADE)—a user-centered process that actively involves wheelchair users, clinicians, and advocacy groups in co-designing solutions that meet real-world needs.
RAMMP will also create a new workforce and manufacturing opportunities in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania, with the goal of producing advanced mobility systems domestically.
Joining Pitt in this national consortium are Kinova Robotics, LUCI Mobility, ATDev, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Northeastern University and Purdue University.
The five-year project, “RAMMP: Robotic Assistive Mobility and Manipulation Platform Providing Independence for People with Disabilities,” launched in September 2025.
This research was funded, in part, by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.