Enabling Next-Generation Cloud-Connected Bionic Limbs Through 5G Connectivity

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel 5G-enabled cloud-connected architecture for bionic limbs, enhancing computational capabilities and reducing latency to improve user experience and functionality.

Contribution

It introduces a hierarchical distributed computing system leveraging 5G, edge, and cloud resources for assistive bionic limbs, validated through a 5G testbed proof-of-concept.

Findings

Achieved low-latency, high data rate communication suitable for prosthetic control

Demonstrated effective offloading of compute tasks to edge/cloud servers

First validation of 5G-enabled cloud-connected bionic limb system

Abstract

Despite the recent advancements in human-machine interfacing, contemporary assistive bionic limbs face critical challenges, including limited computational capabilities, high latency, and unintuitive control mechanisms, leading to suboptimal user experience and abandonment rates. Addressing these challenges requires a shift toward intelligent, interconnected solutions powered by advances in Internet of Things systems, particularly wireless connectivity and edge/cloud computing. This article presents a conceptual approach to transform bionic limbs by harnessing the pervasive connectivity of 5G and the significant computational power of cloud and edge servers, equipping them with capabilities not available hitherto. The system leverages a hierarchical distributed-computing architecture that integrates local, edge, and cloud computing layers. Time-critical tasks are handled by a local processing unit, while compute-intensive tasks are offloaded to edge and cloud servers, leveraging the high data rate, reliable and low latency capabilities of advanced cellular networks. We perform a proof-of-concept validation in a 5G testbed showing that such networks are capable of achieving data rates and fulfilling latency requirements for a natural prosthetic control, allowing for offloading of compute-intensive jobs to the edge/cloud servers. This is the first step towards the realization and real-world validation of cloud-connected bionic limb systems.