Bionic Artificial Limbs: Challenges and Innovations

This lecture by the instructor focuses on the field of translational neuroengineering, specifically on the development of bionic artificial limbs. The motivation behind this research is to improve the quality of life for upper limb amputees by enhancing their ability to reach, grasp, manipulate, and sense through touch. The lecture covers the statistics related to upper limb amputations and the challenges faced in designing functional and naturally controlled prosthetic hands. It delves into the current technologies available for amputees, such as passive cosmetic prosthetic hands and myoelectric hand prostheses. The lecture also explores the mechatronic design challenges, adaptability, and non-back-drivability issues in creating artificial hands with a high degree of freedom. Case studies on prototypes like the SmartHand and OpenHand are presented, showcasing advancements in adaptability and fine manipulation capabilities.