Overall Project
- Why: Prosthetics improve amputees well being both physically and mentally.
- What exists: Current prosthetics have a learning curve,which requires the user to relearn how to move their appendages.
- What this project brings: This project allows the wearer to immediately use the prosthetic without having to relearn anything. The limb will move with thought processes normally used to move natural limbs.
Processor
- Why: The Raspberry Pi was chosen for its ability to control multiple servos. It also has a lot of information available online to troubleshoot.
- External Components vs internal capabilities: To control the servos, the raspberry pi requires two addition shields, but with this shields the only other thing necessary is supplying constant power to the servos.
- Speed/cushion/improvement possibilities: The database of categorized brain waves can be improved in the future to include other limbs, which can then be coded for.
Hardware Choices
- Availability: The arm was supplied by the department for the purpose of testing this project.
- Reliability: It has not yet been determined whether or not the arm is reliable, but the department has stated that their has been prior success controlling it.
- In the future, a more lifelike arm will need to be implemented, but for the purpose of initial testing we will use the arm supplied.