Foot Controller System for Prosthetic Arm Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current prosthetic arm control methods, such as surface electromyography (sEMG), face challenges like muscle fatigue, unreliability, and limited intuitive control, especially when dealing with environmental factors and simultaneous motions, and often require capable muscles in the residual limb, which may not always be available.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic arm controller system using a foot controller with interactive buttons and a sensor-controller unit that includes a microcontroller, gyroscope, accelerometer, and wireless communication to transmit commands for grip, rotate, and bend actions, allowing users to control prosthetic arms through foot movements, providing intuitive and reliable control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surface electromyography (sEMG) is used to control prosthetic arms, then control capability is achieved, but muscle fatigue and unreliability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces foot-based sensors as an intermediary control interface between the user's intent and the prosthetic arm. Instead of directly using residual limb muscles through sEMG, the system mediates control through the contralateral foot, which has reliable muscle control. This transfers the control function from the compromised residual limb to the healthy foot, eliminating muscle fatigue while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional control approach by using the foot (contralateral to the prosthetic side) instead of the residual limb itself. This inversion allows users with insufficient residual limb muscles to control the prosthetic arm through their healthy foot muscles, reversing the problematic dependency on weakened muscles while achieving reliable control.
2Ease of operation
If sEMG pattern recognition is used to reduce direct control, then cognitive demand is reduced, but control reliability decreases due to pattern changes from environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical signal-based sEMG control system with a mechanical/pressure-based sensor system in the foot. This substitution uses force-sensitive resistors and pressure sensors that detect mechanical foot movements and presses, which are more stable and less susceptible to environmental factors like sweat and electrode shift, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If foot controllers with force sensors are used, then control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the foot controller unit to perform multiple functions: it contains force-sensitive resistors for detecting foot presses, inertial measurement units for detecting foot movements, and wireless communication capabilities. This multi-functional integration allows a single device to provide comprehensive control, reducing the need for separate components and thereby managing complexity while improving control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing technologies (force sensors, inertial sensors, wireless communication) into a single integrated foot controller unit. This merging of functions into one compact device simplifies the overall system architecture compared to having separate components, thereby improving control capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If inertial measurement units are mounted on the shoe, then foot movement detection is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates inertial measurement units directly into the foot controller unit that is already placed in the shoe. This merging of the IMU with the existing foot controller architecture allows for precise foot movement detection without adding separate mounting hardware or complex integration systems, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective and intuitive control of prosthetic arms with minimal training, reducing muscle fatigue and reliance on residual limb muscles, and allowing for precise control of grip and wrist movements, as demonstrated by the Infinity Foot Controller system.
Implementation Method 1
a second controller unit that is removably clipped or otherwise removably attached to the side or top of the shoe or the sock, wherein the second controller unit comprises at least one microcontroller with at least one integrated gyroscope
Implementation Method 2
at least one microcontroller with at least one integrated gyroscope, at least one accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
Prosthetic arm controller systems, as disclosed and discussed herein, include: a first controller unit that is placed or located inside a shoe or a sock of a user or that is integrated into a foot sleeve that slides on to the foot of a user, wherein the first controller unit comprises at least two interactive buttons that the user can engage, a second controller unit that is removably clipped or otherwise removably attached to the side or top of the shoe or the sock, wherein the second controller unit comprises at least one microcontroller with at least one integrated gyroscope, at least one accelerometer, and an onboard wireless protocol antenna that wirelessly communicates at least one command to a prosthetic arm from the first controller unit or the second controller unit, and wherein the at least one command comprises at least one grip command, at least one rotate command, at least one bend command, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first controller unit and the second controller unit may be connected through a wired connection.