Jul-03-18
A smart prosthetic ankle able to adapt to uneven ground mimics the abilities of a real ankle.
Most prosthetic ankles adjust to rough terrain by using springs or padding to passively absorb shocks. As a more nimble alternative, the team from Vanderbilt University developed an artificial ankle equipped with a chip-controlled motor and actuator within the joint. The chip senses the motion of the user to adapt to their steps, including tilting the foot and lifting the big toe.
According to the team, the smart ankle is so smart, the user can even wear different types of shoes—something not possible with most passive prosthetic ankles.
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