Open Bionics

A Bristol company that designs affordable, lightweight bionic arms and hands for people with upper limb differences.

About Open Bionics

Open Bionics makes the Hero Arm, a multi-grip bionic arm for people with upper limb differences. In April 2025 it launched two new hands, the Hero RGD, built for tough working environments, and the Hero PRO, which it says are fast, wireless and waterproof. It also made designs with Disney themes for children.

Its tagline is "We turn disabilities into superpowers". A job-board profile says it aims to "make the most advanced bionic technology more accessible to the people that need it".

The company was founded in 2014 by Bristol-based Samantha Payne MBE and Joel Gibbard MBE. A 2019 article says it moved to new offices in Bristol city centre, and a job-board profile still lists Bristol, UK. Clinics that fit its arms are in the USA, which means the Bristol team builds products for a worldwide market.

The founders received the Princess Royal Silver Medal from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2024. A job-board profile gives its size as 11 to 50 people (undated). It also says users such as Tilly Lockey helped develop the new hands, which shows how closely the team works with the people it designs for.

The site has a Careers page, but the pages we read showed no roles and no graduate scheme, internship or apprenticeship. Engineering, design and prosthetics backgrounds all fit.

What they do

• {'desc': 'A multi-grip bionic arm for people with upper limb differences.', 'title': 'Hero Arm'}
• {'desc': 'Newer hands for tougher use, launched April 2025.', 'title': 'Hero RGD and Hero PRO'}
• {'desc': 'Clinics, mainly in the USA, that fit and support the arms.', 'title': 'Clinic network'}

Key facts

• Founded 2014 in Bristol by Samantha Payne MBE and Joel Gibbard MBE
• Hero RGD and Hero PRO launched 15 April 2025
• Job-board profile lists Bristol, UK and 11 to 50 staff (undated)
• Moved to Bristol city centre offices (2019 article)

Website: openbionics.com