A University of Alberta research team developed a prosthetic arm that uses artificial intelligence to respond to its user’s intention. Using an onboard computer, the Bento Arm responds to a combination of muscle signals and electrical activity in an user’s upper arm and shoulder to control the elbow and wrist with high degrees of precision and accuracy, using machine learning to map the user’s intent for how the machine will move, said Patrick Pilarski, PhD, co-lead of the Bionic Limbs for Improved Natural Control (BLINC) Lab, an interdisciplinary research group that designs smart prosthetics. Pilarski is also a member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Artificial Intelligence with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute.
“Robotic limbs are increasingly common, but here the difference is that AI is critical for connecting the person with their robot arm,” he said.
The device won eighth place at Cybathlon 2024, with Chris Neilson, a BLINC representative, piloting. The team was the only North American team to compete in the arm category.
“Chris had to essentially drive the Bento Arm, much like you might drive a race car, telling his arm what to do using signals and movement from his body,” said Pilarski. “Machine learning is a key piece of that relationship.”
BLINC’s technology is completely open-source, available for use by researchers, companies, and hospitals around the world.
“Open-source technology helps people get the right prosthetic technology at the time of prescription, so they get a prosthetic device that suits them best. It’s all about improving someone’s ability to do activities in their daily life and community.”
To watch a video of the device in action, visit the university’s YouTube channel.
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided by the University of Alberta.
