Prosthetics with artificial intelligence: how Ukrainian architects developed a design for cyber prostheses

/ Technologies /

Could there be something in common between prosthetics and architectural design? As it turned out - yes, because it was the team of Ukrainian architects led by Dmytro Aranchyi who participated in the development of the design of Ukrainian-made prostheses. We tell you who started the process, what kind of prostheses they are and what advantages the domestic product will have.

The Allbionics team launched the production of modern and technological prostheses. They are equipped with a special chip and sensors, and a mobile application that will scan the limbs and artificial intelligence will help to quickly choose fasteners and take into account the individual characteristics of the user. In addition, machine learning algorithms are used to process the signals from the sensors to improve the accuracy of the perception of the user's commands to control the prosthesis. 

 

The idea and introduction of production

The project was initiated by the general director Allbionics Volodymyr Bandura. US researcher Steven Van Fleet, who worked in the field of bionic prostheses and was responsible for manufacturing hundreds of such prostheses for customers in the Western market, was invited to the development process. The American specialist holds 18 patents in topics related to electronics and sensors. 

Visualization: Aranchii Architects

The idea to open a production in Ukraine arose because of difficulties with logistics and maintenance of prostheses. As architect Dmytro Aranchiy, who was involved in the development of the design of the prosthesis, told PRAGMATIKA.MEDIA, interacting with foreign companies is long and expensive.

There are service cases when it is necessary to replace or repair fingers on a prosthesis. And sending it for service to America and Germany takes a lot of time and money. The Ukrainian team plans to organize a full production cycle with further interaction with customers in case of malfunctions. 

In addition, the developers are trying to reduce the cost of the production of prostheses. Currently, the cost of a prosthesis starts at 15 and can reach 100 dollars. Ukrainian developers want to reach figures of $8-10 thousand. 

Usually, Western manufacturers focus on the production of bionic prostheses below the elbow. However, demand shows that almost half of amputations are above the elbow, which is more difficult, because in this case exponential complexity is added in connection with the elbow joint.

 

Design and aesthetics

Currently, according to Aranchi, the modeling stage has already been completed. Designers have developed a sample in a standard size, then they plan to work on the possibility of automatically changing it, adapting and adapting it to different configurations of people. 

"A prototype is made at each stage of development. Once we've completed a certain modeling phase, it's immediately tested in the physical model in terms of movement, grip, how much he can lift, how he moves. One of the last tests is lifting water bottles. The strength of the prosthesis was enough to lift a significant load. And I understand that the load can be increased," says Dmytro. 

Visualization: Allbionics

In terms of adapting the anthropomorphic characteristics, the developers tried to make the 3D scan and the creation of the "socket" - a connector for amputation - as fast as possible. "What we want as much as possible is that a person is not ashamed of the prosthesis, but on the contrary - proud of it," Aranchiy emphasizes.

Our key task is to change the perception of users about prostheses

"We sought to make the prosthesis anatomical, and at the same time not too anatomical. We don't want to mimic the anatomy and pretend that we don't notice that the hand is not the same and that it is not real. On the contrary, there is certainly an anatomy, but we tried to create such a design that we could, let's say, be proud of it," the architect adds. - Our task is to combine form with function, to take into account the mechanical and functional properties of elements developed by engineers. We had to make the form not a hindrance, but a help. Engineers deal with mechanics and develop artificial intelligence that refines hand control, and we make a mold that incorporates all of that."

 

What are the plans

Currently, Allbionics plans to release a prosthesis below the elbow in April this year. The development of a cyber prosthesis above the elbow still requires time. In the third quarter of 2023, the team plans to develop a number of solutions for cases of leg amputations. 

Dmytro Aranchiy adds that in the future these will be compact factories that can be opened in any country where there is an urgent need for prosthetics. Therefore, the geographical expansion of technologies developed by Ukrainian teams is not excluded.

 

Visualization on the main: Aranchii Architects

 

 

See also:

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