New technology developed in the United States prosthetic hand. A team from the University of Utah has unveiled a system that combines advanced sensors and neural networks. artificial intelligence The ability to mimic tactile sensation and adjust the grip autonomously reduces the cognitive load that causes many patients to abandon their prosthetics.
This innovation was successfully tested by several participants. Perform daily activities with greater ease and control. This proposal comes in response to the widely documented problem that nearly half of robotic prosthesis users have stopped using their robotic prosthetics because they are too focused on coordinating each movement.
Traditional prosthetics rely on conscious commands to move each finger, so basic movements like holding a cup or manipulating delicate objects require constant mental effort. Progress at the University of Utah aims to solve this challenge. A combination of physical sensors and machine learning algorithms.
A system that feels and operates like a real hand
Engineers worked with TASKA Prosthetics to incorporate pressure and optical sensors into the fingertips of a commercially available robotic hand. These components allow detection of everything from heavy objects to barely perceptible objects. Weight of cotton ball. The data collected is fed into an artificial intelligence that can adjust the position of each finger while adjusting independently to generate a grip suitable for different types of objects.
Unlike other robotic systems that fully automate movement, this prosthetic leg combines user intent with intelligent AI corrections. If a person wants to hold an object firmly, the system strengthens the grip. On the other hand, if you want to let go, the prosthetic leg will detect this change in intention and adapt. In this way, user autonomy is maintained while reducing the effort required to control movement.
Reduces mental load and makes daily work more natural
To evaluate the system's performance, four people with amputations between the wrist and elbow participated in a series of tests. The volunteers successfully completed tasks that typically required precision and sensory control.drinking from a plastic cup without deforming it, holding small objects without the risk of dropping them, etc. The integration of sensors and algorithms has allowed the prosthesis to act like a natural extension of the body, correcting for minute movements that can cause errors and extra effort with traditional prostheses.
Marshall Trout, a researcher at Utah's Neurorobotics Institute, explained: Many users stop using prosthetics because current systems do not provide the level of control they need. Lack of sensory feedback forces people to focus more on each movement, leading to mental fatigue. With this new approach, artificial intelligence takes over some of the work that would normally be left entirely to the user, making simple tasks simple again.
Fellow team member Jacob A. George pointed out that moving some of the gripping process inside the prosthesis will make everyday use more intuitive. The robot hand analyzes the appropriate pressure, corrects small deviations and automatically distributes the force to the fingers.
The path to more natural interactions
While this advance is an important step, researchers are already working on the next steps. Integration of implanted neural interfaces that allow brain signals to control prostheseswhile providing users with a realistic tactile sensation. The ultimate goal is to complete the complete cycle of intention, movement, and perception, a challenge that has the potential to completely transform the experience with bionic technology.
If this development is successful, robotic prosthetics could move beyond complex mechanical controls and evolve into systems that respond as quickly and precisely as biological hands. The combination of artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and neural communications points to an era when these devices not only replace limbs, but are seamlessly integrated into everyday life and require no additional effort from those who rely on them.
