S.A.P.I.E.N.S. – Sensor Aided Prosthesis Integrating Electrophysiology Neural Systems

Today high-technology limb prostheses are hardly affordable and often need more personalization and key functionalities.

S.A.P.I.E.N.S (Sensor Aided Prosthesis Integrating Electrophysiology Neural Systems) is an open-source project that aims to give amputees and researchers the freedom to create their prosthetic hands with a large range of functionalities with a sustainable economic effort.

1. What are you making?

The project is based on the construction of a state-of-the-art robotic hand addressed to people who have undergone controlled trans-radial amputation or wrist disarticulation with EEG (Electroencephalography) and EMG (Electromyography) signal interfaces to allow the most effective control possible.
The prosthesis consists of a 3D-printed robotic hand moved by 12 brushless (BLDC) motors to allow 12 degrees of freedom. Actuators are controlled by a field-oriented approach allowing a more accurate control of both force and position of the fingers.
Our goal is to control the hand synergically with EEG and EMG. EEG signals will be used to control specific grips that the hand can perform, as well as help as a feedback system, while EMG signals will be used for more fluid and complete control of the fingers. We are also creating our own EMG interface with a non-localized sensing approach to get the amount of data that best suits our objectives.

2. How are OpenBCI tools being applied?

The OpenBCI tools will be used as a control system and secondarily, as a feedback provider for the user. Thanks to the freedom of the positioning of the electrodes, the device will guarantee closer access to the signals coming from the motor cortex, thus heightening the resolution of the part of the brain where the motor-related activity takes place. In this way, we could be able to perform the control by basing our analysis on the actual thought of closing or opening the hand.
The final aim is to integrate the two sensor groups (EMG and EEG) to improve personalization and to lighten the cognitive burden of using the prosthesis.

3. Why is this important?

Our project aims to create a 3d robotic hand controlled both with EEG and EMG.
Our project is revolutionary since it allows an asynchronous movement of the fingers. Moreover, it’s an open-source project that allows anyone who may need to recreate it at lower costs than those who are present on the market.

4. Who is involved in this project?

The project is carried out by 40 PoliMi students, members of AEA (Automation Engineering Association), the student Association of Robotics and Automation Engineering of Politecnico di Milano.
We are both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students coming from different engineering branches such as automation, biomedical, mechanical, and computer science engineering allowing us to have a more transversal approach to creating the project.

5. Want to learn more about this project?

For more updates about this project:
LinkedIn AEA : https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeapolimi
Instagram AEA : https://www.instagram.com/aeapolimi/
sito AEA : https://www.aeapolimi.it/it/