Biomechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that aims to integrate biological organisms with mechanical and electrical elements to create innovative prosthetics. It has a long history, from ancient Egypt to modern advances. Current research at universities like MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Arizona State focus on areas like creating prosthetics with more natural control and tactile feedback through technologies like neural implants, bionic skin, and tactile sensors. This research seeks to restore mobility and functionality through user-customized intelligent prosthetics.

1. Biomechatronics
Eric Minaker
October 15, 2013

2. What is Biomechatronics?
● Interdisciplinary science aiming to integrate
mechanical and electrical elements with
biological organisms
● Goal is to create new, innovative prosthetics
that can restore mobility to human motor
control that was lost or impaired

3. History of Prosthetics
● Ancient Egypt pioneered simple prosthetics
● First evidence of modern prosthetics in 1508
● German mercenary created articulated metal
hands after losing his right arm in battle
● In 1800 James Potts created the first
prosthesis to use tendon movement to
control the limb
● In modern times, prosthetics have have
gained much larger ranges of motion and
new interfaces to control their movement

4. Current Research in
Biomechatronics
● MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and
Arizona State University are pioneering
forces in the field
● MIT has been responsible for numerous
scientific and technological breakthroughs
● Carnegie Mellon maintain a smaller lab that
is able to research a few topics intensively
● Arizona State University has focussed on
tactile feedback in hands and grip responses

5. MIT Research
● Muscle actuated fish
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One of the first biomechatronics research projects
Uses frog leg muscles to power a robotic fish
● Neural control and implants
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Will allow for natural control of limbs with changing
terrain
Provides more accurate tactile feedback from
prosthesis
● Bionic Skin
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Creates a seamless interface between human skin
and contact surfaces of the prosthesis
Allows for more natural movement

6. Carnegie Mellon University
Research
● User specific prosthetic design
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Plans to create a versatile testbed to rapidly create
unique prosthetics based on a user’s needs
○ Not only custom molds, but interfaces, motors, and
joints
○ Will reduce overall cost and help with chronic
walking speed, falling, and pain associated with
lower limb prosthetics

7. Arizona State University Research
● Grip responses
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Research into how hands react to gripping objects of
varying shapes
Focusses on pressure applied when rotating and
handling oddly shaped objects
● Tactile sensor skin
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Like MIT’s bionic skin, would allow for accurate
tactile feedback from the prosthetic
Unlike current sensors used on hands, skin can be
deformed and is conformable

8. Current State of Biomechatronics
and Intelligent Prosthetics
● iLimb
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Variable control for each digit
Pressure sensitive skin
Uses tendon and muscle activity to control digit and
limb movement

9. Contact
eminaker@lssu.edu
More information can be found at
http://biomech.media.mit.edu
http://biomechatronics.engineering.asu.edu
http://biomechatronics.cit.cmu.edu