Mechatronic System Design and Development of iROD: EMG Controlled Bionic Prosthesis for Middle-Third Forearm Amputee

Abstract

In Peru, 5.2% of all the population are people with motor disabilities. Some of these with congenital malformations or forearm amputations suffer from difficulties within society to carry out their activities of daily living. Many times, they choose to use a cosmetic prosthesis, since a bionic one is very expensive. Today, thanks to 3D printing, it is possible to manufacture affordable bionic prosthesis. For this reason, the innovative research was carried out from 2019 to 2020 under the supervision of the School of Mechatronics Engineering at Ricardo Palma University, it was designed and developed in the Digital Systems Laboratory resulting in iROD, a bionic prosthesis for a person with amputation at the level of the middle third of the forearm applying EMG signals. In addition, this device captures EMG signals from the forearm using dry electrodes for greater patient comfort. For the development, the biomechanical concepts of the human hand were used, where SolidWorks was used for the mechanisms and then to be printed in 3D, Eagle for the electrical and electronic system, and Arduino IDE for the control system. This prosthesis was designed for Mr. Franz Dioses, a person with an amputation at the level of the middle third of the forearm, helping to carry out his activities of daily living. In conclusion, this bionic prosthesis is the functional prototype, being the beginning of a more advanced one, improving the mechanical system and including control with artificial intelligence. It is proposed to start in September 2021 to design and develop these improvements.