Introducing V-Soft Pro: a Modular Platform for a Transhumeral Prosthesis with Controllable Stiffness

TL;DR

This paper introduces V-Soft Pro, a modular transhumeral prosthesis with variable stiffness actuators that mimic natural joint compliance, enhancing adaptability and safety in prosthetic limb control.

Contribution

The development of a modular prosthetic platform with integrated variable stiffness actuators that adapt to different tasks and user needs, inspired by biological joint compliance.

Findings

Demonstrated adaptable joint stiffness in the prosthesis

Enabled natural movement and safe interaction with environment

Showcased customization for different residual limb shapes

Abstract

Current upper limb prostheses aim to enhance user independence in daily activities by incorporating basic motor functions. However, they fall short of replicating the natural movement and interaction capabilities of the human arm. In contrast, human limbs leverage intrinsic compliance and actively modulate joint stiffness, enabling adaptive responses to varying tasks, impact absorption, and efficient energy transfer during dynamic actions. Inspired by this adaptability, we developed a transhumeral prosthesis with Variable Stiffness Actuators (VSAs) to replicate the controllable compliance found in biological joints. The proposed prosthesis features a modular design, allowing customization for different residual limb shapes and accommodating a range of independent control signals derived from users' biological cues. Integrated elastic elements passively support more natural movements, facilitate safe interactions with the environment, and adapt to diverse task requirements. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the platform and its functionalities, highlighting its potential applications in the field of prosthetics.