IoT-based Prosthetic Arm Controlled by Human Gestures

The need for affordable prosthetic solutions is huge in underdeveloped areas, where facilities of higher technology are unreachable to most amputated people. While much work has been done to develop different prosthetics, their prices and sophistication have limited accessibility and usage. The following is a milestone study that proposes the development of a gesture-controlled prosthetic arm using flex sensors together with ESP-NOW wireless communication technology. It is designed to be affordable and user-friendly, translating the user’s gestures into specific movements of the arm that allow self-sufficiency. The use of 3D-printed parts reduces both cost and weight, while the wireless communication framework increases portability. The proposed solution can mimic 32 human hand gestures and has 5 degrees of freedom (DoF). This research underlines the imperative of matching technological advancements with accessibility to improve the lives of amputees all over the world.