division of BIOLAB
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Honeywell Linear Transducers
Applications
Continuous control of an artificial elbow joint
PROBLEM:
The use of our hands and arms is very important in our daily lives. The loss of
an arm can offer some significant life challenges.
Did you know that an amputee with a prosthesis can control the motion of their
artificial arms with their thoughts? Electrodes are imbedded into the arm and
the amputees learn to control the motion with their minds. Until recently the
arms moved with jerky motions because they were controlled with a series of
electromechanical switches which pulsed the small drive motor. Not only were
these electromechanical switch driven units heavy and bulky but they only
produced crude jerky motions.
SOLUTION:
Honeywell Sensing and Control design engineers worked with the customer to
completely redesign the elbow joint. They were able to eliminate the bulky
electromechanical switches and replace them with a thin, 0.1 inch wide MystRŪ
strip attached to the inner diameter of the joint. This miniature strip provides
a continuous signal for control over the entire range of motion. The MystRŪ
element strip and its associated wiper only weigh a few grams compared to the
nearly one pound of hardware it replaced.
Now the elbow can be controlled in a continuous motion without the weight and
bulk of the electromechanical switches.
ENVIRONMENT:
The MystRŪ lives in the environment of the user and is subjected to the
temperatures, humidity, shock and vibration seen by an individual during a
normal work and play day.