What Tatum Robotics does

Tatum Robotics, founded in 2021 by Samantha Johnson and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, develops the Tatum1, the world's first tactile fingerspelling robotic system, targeting the DeafBlind community as its primary user base. The company operates as a private LLC with 1-10 employees supplemented by contractors, interns, and volunteers, with a registered address at 37 Cottage St, Hudson, MA. Its 3D-printed robotic hand uses materials including TPU, nylon, and PETG, integrates 15-16 tactile buttons (including a safety control), and is engineered for autonomous use by DeafBlind individuals. Tatum1 is built on a proprietary translational algorithm that decomposes English text into components and rearranges them into customizable ASL fingerspelling grammar, drawing on a proprietary database of 45 unique signs and offering adjustable speed, grammar, and summarization settings. The device is WiFi-connected for real-time translation, over-the-air feature updates, and an evolving feature surface that includes weather, news, messaging, and video calling, with the company engineering durability for 3-million cycles.

The product was developed in close collaboration with DeafBlind community members, incorporating direct feedback from over 175-200 DeafBlind individuals globally, and a DeafBlind team member (Elaine Ducharme) is part of the development staff. Core institutional ties include the DeafBlind Contact Center (DBCC), the Perkins School for the Blind, and the federally funded iCanConnect program, alongside community relationships with AADB, HKNC, and the Usher Syndrome Coalition.

Tatum Robotics sells Tatum1 direct-to-consumer through a Shopify e-commerce storefront with an eligibility-verified pre-order system that currently prioritizes DeafBlind users. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and funding assistance is available for qualifying users through iCanConnect (a federal program) and the Tatum Robotics Foundation, a separate nonprofit established to support users outside federal eligibility. Devices are deployed in households, specialized schools for the deaf and blind, and healthcare environments. In 2026 the company received the Robots for Good Award at the RBR50 Gala.

Name

Tatum Robotics

Legal name

Tatum Robotics LLC

Website

https://tatumrobotics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tatum Robotics builds Tatum1, the world's first tactile fingerspelling robotic hand that translates English text into ASL fingerspelling, enabling DeafBlind individuals to access digital communication independently. The Boston-area company sells direct-to-consumer with funding support from iCanConnect and the Tatum Robotics Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive Robotics

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Assistive Robotics (HDAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot Hardware, Actuators & Components (sensors, grippers, motors) (HDAAAIAL), Humanoid & General-Purpose Robots (HDAAAIAJ)

Keywords

• Assistive robotics
• Tactile fingerspelling devices
• Deafblind communication technology
• Accessible robotic hands
• Sign language translation robots

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tatum1 Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of the Tatum1 robotic device. Device includes integrated camera, 16 tactile buttons, and WiFi connectivity for ongoing updates.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tatum Robotics designs, manufactures, and sells the Tatum1, a robotic hand system that translates English text into tactile ASL fingerspelling so DeafBlind individuals can independently access communication in real time. The hardware device includes an integrated camera, 15-16 tactile buttons, WiFi connectivity, and a cloud backend that delivers features such as weather, news, messaging, and video calling. Sales are executed via a pre-order model with eligibility verification, supplemented by federal program funding (iCanConnect) and the Tatum Robotics Foundation.

Product overview

Tatum Robotics offers a single unified product, the Tatum1 robotic system. Tatum1 is the world's first tactile fingerspelling robotic hand that translates digital text content (weather, news, messages, and more) into tactile ASL fingerspelling, providing DeafBlind individuals with independent access to communication without relying on interpreters. The device is cloud-connected for real-time updates and features customizable speed, grammar, and haptics settings. Currently available via pre-order for DeafBlind users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tatum1 Tatum1 is a robotic hand system that translates English text into tactile ASL fingerspelling through a 3D-printed robotic hand with 15-16 tactile buttons and WiFi connectivity. It enables DeafBlind individuals to independently access weather, news, messaging, video calling, and other digital content in real time without an interpreter. The device includes an integrated camera, customizable speed and grammar settings, cloud-based updates, and safety features rated for 3-million cycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 DeafBlind users providing ongoing feedback for product improvement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DeafBlind Contact Center (DBCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1980, DBCC has been serving the Boston DeafBlind community for over 40 years. DBCC is a nonprofit social organization of and for Deaf or hard of hearing individuals who have vision loss. Samantha Johnson began working with DBCC during her master's program to develop the fingerspelling robotic hand as her thesis, and DBCC encouraged her to found Tatum Robotics.
• Perkins School for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts, founded in 1829, is the oldest school for the blind in the United States and a leader in education services for children and young adults with disabilities and visual impairments. Samantha Johnson worked with students at Perkins during her undergraduate studies and learned about living with DeafBlindness from this experience.
• iCanConnectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoriCanConnect is a federally funded national program that provides free equipment and training for people with both significant hearing and vision loss who meet disability and income eligibility guidelines. The program purchases and distributes assistive technology including Tatum1 to qualifying DeafBlind individuals.
• Tatum Robotics FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit foundation established by Tatum Robotics specifically to provide funding assistance for DeafBlind individuals who do not qualify for federally funded programs like iCanConnect. Helps expand access to Tatum1 for users who need financial support.
• Usher Syndrome CoalitionminorOthersThe only organization in the world working to find and support every individual and family living with Usher Syndrome, regardless of where they live, what type of USH they were born with, or their method of communication. Listed as a resource for the DeafBlind community.
• American Association of The DeafBlind (AADB)minorOthersNational consumer organization of, by, and for deaf-blind Americans and their supporters. Their mission is to ensure that all deaf-blind persons achieve their maximum potential through increased independence, productivity, and integration into the community.
• Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)minorOthersThe only national program providing comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to youth (16 and older), working-age adults and seniors (55 and older) with combined hearing and vision loss.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OrCam Technologies: Developer of wearable AI assistive devices (MyEye, MyReader) for people with vision and hearing impairment. Closest comparable commercial model: subscription/wearable AI hardware priced for premium assistive-tech buyers and reimbursed through disability programs.
• Humanware: Long-standing assistive technology manufacturer (BrailleNote, Victor Reader) focused on devices for blind and low-vision users. Comparable in selling specialized, partially federally funded assistive hardware to similar institutions and consumer reimbursement channels.
• Dot Incorporation: Maker of the Dot Braille smartwatch and tactile display technology for the visually impaired. Highly comparable as a tactile-output wearable assistive device targeting the same federally funded DeafBlind/VI reimbursement ecosystem.
• Tobii Dynavox: Market-leading provider of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices and eye-gaze hardware for people with communication disabilities. Directly comparable in selling partially Medicaid/insurance-funded communication devices through schools, healthcare, and home settings.
• PRC-Saltillo: Manufacturer of AAC speech-generating devices (ChatPlus, TouchChat, NovaChat) widely deployed in schools and homes. Overlaps with Tatum in solving independent communication access for users with sensory/motor limitations, often on similar funding channels.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: UK-based assistive technology company producing AAC devices (Grid Pad, Lumin-i) with eye-gaze and switch access. Comparable in selling specialized, software-rich communication hardware through education and healthcare channels.
• Jabbla: Belgian developer of AAC devices (Jabbla devices, Mind Express software) with multilingual tactile/visual communication support. Comparable in catering to users with complex communication needs across multiple sign/symbol languages.

Broad incumbents

• EKSO Bionics: Public wearable exoskeleton robotics company serving rehabilitation and mobility assistance. Comparable as an assistive/healthcare robotics player pursuing insurance and clinical reimbursement — though focused on mobility rather than communication.
• SoftBank Robotics: Large humanoid/assistive robotics developer (Pepper, NAO). Comparable as a broader healthcare and education robotics platform; relevant for category and channel perspective, though much larger and not specialized for DeafBlind communication.
• Apple Accessibility: Mass-market consumer-tech incumbent investing heavily in built-in accessibility (haptic feedback, Live Captions, Personal Voice). Represents the most consequential platform competitive risk: bundled accessibility features could partially substitute for standalone assistive devices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TatumRobotics/?locale=fo_FO
• Instagraminstagram.com/tatumrobotics/reels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tatumrobotics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tatum Robotics