Download Brain-Machine Interface for Prosthetic Arm

Senior Design Project Description for FALL 2013
Project Title: Brain-Machine Interface for Prosthetic Arm
Supporter: UNC Charlotte ECE
Supporter Technical Representative: N/A
Faculty Mentor: Bharat Joshi
Single Team
X
Dual Team ______ (check one)
Personnel (EN/ET): 2 E, 1 Cp,
Cv,
M,
Expected person-hours: (250 per student)
SE
Anticipated Project Cost and Funding Source (UNC Charlotte internal projects only):
ECE Department and grant money
Description of Project:
Traditional prosthetic arms and hands provide the user with limited functionality and no sensory
feedback. The last decade has produced many improvements in functionality due to advances in
sensory and microprocessor technology, but these examples have not resulted in prosthetics that
can significantly restore the user’s sense of touch. The two most prominent examples involve
vast amounts of hardware as well as physical connections between the sensors and the user’s
peripheral nerves. This objective of this project is to design and simulate a basic brain-machine
interface (BMI) that will lay the foundation for John Turner’s future graduate research to create a
prosthetic limb capable of transmitting sensory information to the user without the need for
cumbersome hardware or physical connection to the user’s nerves.
There are many prosthetic limbs available that resemble human hands and provide acceptable
amounts of manual dexterity for this project. There are also examples of fingertips that could be
a strong foundation for the input of this device.
Initial Project Requirements (e.g. weight, size, etc.):
The goal of the proposed Senior Design project is to design and simulate a basic BMI that, in
future, will lead to a prosthetic hand/arm that interfaces with the peripheral nerves of the wearer.
This project will leverage recent research which has shown that certain types of wireless passive
receptors, such as RFID tags, can be attached to nerves and can successfully transmit and receive
signals.
Expected Deliverables/Results:
The final product would be a basic BMI for tactile sensors in the fingertips. The interface would
contain electronics which would process sensory input and wirelessly transmit the signals to
receptors. All drawings are to be included in a report describing the final product. A user
manual will be provided.
Surgical attachment of receptors and demonstration of the product by a user is beyond the scope
of this project.
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Personnel: (Place X next to skill needed)
E = Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology
- X Circuit design
- Device fabrication and utilization of clean room facilities
- VLSI design
- X Communication and wireless
- Power systems and power management
- X Robot control and systems
CpE = Computer Engineering
- X Embedded systems and software development
- Advanced Logic design and computer architecture
- Advanced FPGA development in VHDL and/or Verilog
- Communications
- X Robot control and systems
Cv = Civil Engineering
- Structural analysis
- Structural materials
- Geotechnical engineering
- Environmental engineering
M = Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Internal combustion engines
- Thermodynamics
- DFM / DFA
- Vibration analysis and remediation
- CFD / Fluid dynamics design or analysis
- Computer Aided Modeling or Machining
- Machine dynamics or design
- Metrology
- Energy use analysis
- Finite Element Thermal Analysis
- Finite Element Structural Analysis
- Structural design
SE = Systems Engineering
- Systems Design
- Project Management
- Simulation
- System Operations
- Integration
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Quality issues
List here any specific skills needed such as CAD, FEA, C++:
Microcontrollers, programming, sensors, signal processing, wireless communication, and some
exposure to neurophysiology
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