Past, Current, and Future State of Prosthetic Arms
The functional capability and independence of people with upper-limb amputation have been greatly enhanced in recent years by advances in prosthetic engineering, materials science, and neural interfacing technologies. This paper summarizes the history of prosthetic arm development, discusses current research, and addresses the key challenges that must be resolved to ensure their widespread adoption. Key design features for the hand, wrist, and arm are explored, with an emphasis on dexterity, degrees of freedom (DOF), structural strength, and user comfort. The evolution of motion control is discussed, and the transition from passive and body-powered control systems to myoelectric control and the emerging field of neural and brain-computer interfaces is outlined. While there has been significant progress, comfort, control reliability, limitations in sensory feedback, cost, and ethics remain key challenges. A range of solutions was discussed, including adaptive socket design, modular design, machine learning algorithms, and sensory feedback systems to improve usability and accessibility. The paper emphasizes the need for continued interdisciplinary research and development, as well as user-friendly design, to enhance the usability and comfort of prosthetic arms.