Evaluation of a Low Cost Prosthetic Hand Controlled by Surface EMG Sensors and Vibrotactile Feedback

摘要

This study proposes a prosthetic hand with a simple control algorithm and off-the-shelf electronics. We designed this hand to be used and repaired in underdeveloped regions. A differential sEMG signal is obtained from the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum muscles to control the position of the hand’s grasp. Three different hand control schemes (visual, vibrotactile and visual plus vibrotactile) were compared and tested in ten able-bodied individuals. We observed a better performance of the visual and vibrotactile control overall, but the vibrotactile feedback increased performance after several interactions. In subjective data evaluations vibrotactile and visual feedback had the highest scores in light and medium pressures, while visual-only feedback type had the highest average score for hard pressure.