Design and Development of an EMG Upper Limb Controlled Prosthesis: A Preliminary Approach

• DOI: 10.3390/act14050219
• Publication Date: 2025-04-29T11:49:36Z
• Authors: Ricardo Rodrigues; Daniel Miranda; Vitor Carvalho; Demétrio Matos
• Keywords: Artificial limbs

A multitude of factors, including accidents, chronic illnesses, and conflicts, contribute to rising global amputation rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 57.7 million people lived with traumatic limb amputations in 2017, many lacking access affordable prostheses. This study presents a preliminary framework for low-cost, electromyography (EMG)-controlled upper prosthesis, integrating 3D printing EMG sensors enhance accessibility functionality. Surface electrodes capture bioelectric signals from muscle contractions, processed via an Arduino Uno actuate one-degree-of-freedom (1-DoF) prosthetic hand. Preliminary results demonstrate reliable detection contractions (threshold = 7 ADC units, ~34 mV) motor actuation response time ~150 ms, offering cost-effective alternative commercial systems. While limited basic movements, this design lays the groundwork scalable, user-centered prosthetics. Future work will incorporate multi-DoF control, AI-driven signal processing, wireless connectivity improve precision usability, advancing rehabilitation technology amputees resource-limited settings.