Bionic Arm Opens New Doors for Tippit Sixth Grader
Born without his right hand, Tippit Sixth Grader Kai Pollnitz has always approached life’s challenges with determination. From an early age, Kai knew that his future could be just as full as anyone else’s. What he didn’t know is that his future would include sporting the world’s most futuristic bionic arm.
“I’ve always been able to do things other people can do, but I’ve had to learn them in my own way,” Kai said. “Now, having a bionic arm, many parts of my life have changed.”
What Kai believed was a doctor’s visit to get a conventional prosthetic arm would turn out to be an orchestrated surprise.
The “doctor”? Youtuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast”.
And the arm? A one-of-a-kind Hero Pro Bionic Arm.
Created by the company Open Bionics, the Hero Pro is a fully wireless, water-resistant arm that can lift up to 55 pounds, is touchscreen-compatible, and can be controlled with an app on your phone.
This specific arm was customized just for Kai, featuring a bold MrBeast design and Kai’s name on the removable cover.
“There won’t be another replica of my arm in the world,” Kai said. “The cover design is one-of-a-kind, and I can’t believe it’s mine.”
The arm, valued at $25,000, came at no cost to Kai’s family. MrBeast teamed up with Open Bionics to cover all the costs of the arm, officially making it a once-in-a-lifetime gift.
“I used to hear whispers and get looks as people passed me,” Kai said.“Now that I have this arm, people are curious, but in a different way…They think it’s cool and they want to learn more.”
How it works
The Hero Pro uses sensors to detect muscle movements in the limb, translating these movements into gestures of the bionic hand and fingers. With a mobile app, users can customize grip modes, monitor battery life, track performance, and access training guides.
As Kai grows, the arm can grow with him. Kai’s family will have the option to pay for new inserts to be sized and 3D-printed to ensure a proper fit over time.
As Kai transitions from one bionic arm insert to the next, his mother, Charlotte Pollnitz, knows one thing that will remain:
“Kai has always been uniquely himself, before the bionic arm and after,” Charlotte said. “He has a heart of gold, and he’s deserving of whatever big things come his way.”
Watch the video of Kai’s surprise
Read Open Bionics’ spotlight on Kai
Check out Kai in the press — KXAN & Hello Georgetown
