This project is focused on the development of a unique powered prosthetic for transfemoral (above knee) amputees with capabilities that are currently unavailable from similar prosthetics in the market. The powered transfemoral prosthetic utilizes bundles of high-pressure hydraulic artificial muscles for actuation of both the knee and ankle joints. An interest in utilizing the hydraulic artificial muscles stems from the various benefits the muscles provide relative to traditional electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic actuation systems. Among other benefits, the bundles of artificial muscles provide high contractile forces and contraction ratios, are lightweight, leak free, and are capable of providing a novel form of hydraulic regenerative braking via variable recruitment. The Phase I efforts involve: (1) increasing prototype robustness via improvements in design and manufacture of artificial muscle fibers and hydraulic dynamic seals, (2) reducing prototype structural weight via the use of high-load tapered carbon-fiber connections that are resistant to tensile, compressive, and bending fatigue, and (3) development of a prosthetic control system that provides intuitive, predictable, comfortable motion for amputees. Adaract plans to design and fabricate a number of iterations of different parts of the prosthetic and perform verification studies. Later on, prosthetic validation studies will be performed with partnering prosthetic clinics under IRB approved human subject research.
