Intelligent prosthetic hips and knees: from actuation to perception and control

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Prosthetics

Background:

• Lower-limb amputees, especially those with high-level amputations, face challenges in restoring natural gait and mobility.
• Intelligent prosthetic hips and knees are crucial for improving functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review recent advancements in intelligent prosthetic hips and knees.
• To examine progress in actuation, perception, and control systems.
• To identify technological bottlenecks and future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current literature on intelligent prosthetic technology.
• Analysis of actuation mechanisms (passive, active, hybrid).
• Evaluation of perception methodologies (mechanical, bioelectric, biomechanical, environmental signals).
• Categorization of control strategies (torque compensation, motion following, intention control).

Main Results:

• Limitations exist in current passive and active prostheses; hybrid systems show promise for replicating natural gait.
• Perception methods face challenges with stability, latency, and signal interference.
• Control strategies vary in effectiveness, with direct intention control offering potential but facing implementation hurdles.
• Key bottlenecks include signal interference, environmental adaptability, and real-time intention recognition.

Conclusions:

• Hybrid actuation and advanced perception-control integration are essential for next-generation intelligent prosthetics.
• Improved prosthetic technology will enhance usability, efficacy, and quality of life for amputees.
• Further research is needed to overcome current technological limitations.