Bionic Hands

    INNOVATION

    Bionic Hands

    Florida Atlantic University engineering and computer science college researchers received $1.2 million from the National Science Foundation to improve the functioning of prosthetic hands. Current prosthetics allow only one grasp function to be controlled at a time. That puts a screwdriver or can opener — let alone a musical instrument and more complicated tasks — out of reach. The researchers’ project uses a novel bimodal skin sensor and combines muscle training and machine learning to improve performance.

    HEALTH CARE

    • Women’s health product company TherapeuticsMD laid off all 212 employees at its headquarters in Boca Raton and companywide after signing a $153-million deal licensing all its products to Australia-based Mayne Pharma.
    • Jupiter philanthropists Johnny and Terry Gray donated $25 million to support Jupiter Medical Center’s under-construction surgical institute. It will be named the Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical institute. The medical center foundation has raised $52 million for the $100-million project.

    REAL ESTATE

    • PEBB Enterprises and Banyan Development signed supermarket Aldi as the anchor for their joint venture neighborhood retail center Shoppes @ the Heart of Tradition, scheduled for completion in 2024 in Port St. Lucie.
    • Developer Royal Palm Cos. secured a $77-million construction loan from 3650 REIT for a 293-unit, eight-story apartment project called Elevate Apartments in Dania Beach scheduled for completion in November.
    • The city of Oakland Park and developer NR Investments broke ground on the Sky Building, a public-private project with 136 residential units, plus commercial space and a city hall. Martin County received $750,000 in state grant money to rehabilitate or replace homes of low- to moderate-income households.

    SERVICES

    • Fort Lauderdale-based engineering, planning and services firm Chen Moore and Associates acquired Jupiter-based NZ Consultants and its seven employees, bringing Chen Moore’s total to 120.

    RETAIL

    • Delray Beach-based Ed Morse Automotive Group acquired from the Rossmeyer family the 100-acre entertainment complex Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach, including Daytona Harley-Davidson, the Clarion Inn Ormond Beach, Saints & Sinners Pub and the 35,000-sq.-ft. Rock N’ Roll event pavilion. It plans to sell LiveWire electric motorcycles. The purchase price was not disclosed.

    TRADE

    • Port Everglades, will receive $19 million from the federal infrastructure law to replace bulkheads at three berths that will operate for the next 75 years.

    TECHNOLOGY

    • Palm Beach State College received $1 million in federal funds to train faculty and students in artificial intelligence and buy augmented and virtual reality gear and other equipment.

    WORKFORCE

    • Fort Lauderdale-based Moss Construction, one of the largest solar contractors in the nation, launched an apprenticeship program to train people in solar energy construction. The two-year apprenticeship program began with 20 participants and features 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 hours of technical instruction. Moss has 29 solar projects underway in eight states.