Indians with upper limb amputations have found new hope in KalArm, a 3D-printed, lightweight, and affordable bionic hand developed by the Hyderabad-based startup Makers Hive.

Named after India’s beloved Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, KalArm offers a groundbreaking solution for millions in need of prosthetic assistance. The device aims to make advanced healthcare accessible in a developing nation like India.

KalArm’s design allows for complete customisation — users can choose from small, medium, and large palm sizes, and personalise the colours of their hand’s shells and panels. Each hand is made to fit the user’s unique needs, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

Founded in 2018 by three visionaries — Pranav Vempati, Harsha Reddy Ponguleti, and Suren Marumamula — Makers Hive was born with a mission to solve real-world problems with cutting-edge technology.

“I learnt more from collaborating with my peers on robotics projects than I did inside the classroom,” says Pranav. His passion for innovation followed him to TCS Ignite, where he worked on diverse projects ranging from drones to virtual reality.

His encounter with the famous agricultural scientist Dr MS Swaminathan changed everything. “Before meeting him, I wanted to settle abroad, earn a fat paycheck, and work on interesting projects. But he inspired me to stay in India and bridge the technological gap between India and the West.”

Inspired by Dr Kalam’s affordable “Kalam-Raju Stent,” Pranav envisioned a similar breakthrough for amputees in India. He wanted to create an affordable bionic hand accessible to the masses.

The result? A bionic hand with state-of-the-art EMG sensors that interpret signals from flexor and extensor muscles in the forearm, enabling amputees to control the hand just by thinking about moving it.

Unlike other bionic hands in the market, KalArm is priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh — “ten times more affordable than similar international prosthetics,” says Pranav. His team built every component, from sensors to actuators, in-house to lower costs.

What makes KalArm truly revolutionary is its mobile app. “We’ve created an app that can send firmware updates, monitor performance, and even fix issues remotely — saving users time and money on repairs,” explains Pranav.

“I was blown away by the responsiveness of the Makers Hive team,” says Ravi Bonka, a KalArm user. “I was surprised to see how light the product is. I can now do everyday activities I had already lost hope on.”