Bend Labs

Founded in 2013 by Shawn Reese and Jared Jonas, Bend Labs emerged from Salt Lake City, Utah, with a focus on developing a sophisticated wearable soft sensor platform for measuring human motion. The company was established to address the market's need for precise, multi-axis, and flexible sensing solutions. A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition by Nitto Denko Corporation in June 2022, after which it began operating as Nitto Bend Technologies. This acquisition integrated Bend Labs' sensor technology with Nitto's global foundation and expertise in areas like adhesive technology and flexible printed circuits.

Jared Jonas, one of the co-founders, brought a diverse background to the company, with experience in product development, technology management, and investment. His academic pursuits included cellular biology at Western Washington University and further studies in genomics and proteomics at the University of Washington, complementing his hands-on experience in research science and technology. This blend of scientific knowledge and business acumen was instrumental in shaping the company's product strategy.

Bend Labs specializes in flexible soft sensor technology designed to measure bend, stretch, and force with high accuracy. The core of its offering is a sensor constructed from medical-grade silicone that provides true angular displacement measurements. Key features of this technology include its low-power consumption, drift-free performance, and path-independent sensing, achieving sub-degree accuracy. This allows the sensors to produce reliable output regardless of bending radius or strain. The company's business model revolves around providing these sensors and associated evaluation kits to clients across various industries, including healthcare, automotive, robotics, consumer electronics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). For instance, customers like Claris Healthcare use the sensors for remote orthopedic patient monitoring. The business generates revenue through the sale of its 1-axis and 2-axis sensors and evaluation kits, which are distributed through partners like Mouser Electronics and DigiKey.

The product line includes both 1-axis and 2-axis flexible sensors. These sensors are designed for durability, tested for millions of cycles without failure. They can be integrated into a variety of applications, such as smart clothing, motion capture systems, and autonomous vehicles. To facilitate adoption, Bend Labs offers evaluation kits that include the sensor, an evaluation board, a battery pack, and a Bluetooth Low Energy module, allowing engineers and developers to prototype and test the technology with ease. The company also provides a web application for data visualization and an API for custom integrations.

Keywords: flexible sensors, soft sensor technology, motion measurement, angular displacement, wearable sensors, Nitto Bend Technologies, human motion tracking, drift-free sensors, low-power sensors, medical-grade silicone, multi-axis sensing, IoT sensors, robotics sensors, automotive sensors, digital healthcare, motion capture technology, smart clothing sensors, flexible electronics, Jared Jonas, Shawn Reese