Automated cyclic testing of prosthetic knee joints using a 4-axis robotic arm: Enhancing biomechatronics and human-machine interaction

Pennycook, Dominic; Rose, Michael; Atoofi, Maryam; Jafari, Aghil; Etoundi, Appolinaire

Abstract

The complex nature of knee joints makes designing and testing prosthetic replacements challenging. The ISO 10328:2016 standard requires rigorous static, constant, and cyclic force testing, which involves high forces and variable angles, adding to the complexity. Current prosthetic knee testers are often expensive, high-maintenance, and space consuming, and many do not meet the ISO 10328:2016 requirements. This paper reviews existing testing methodologies and identifies their limitations. It then introduces a novel solution using a 4-axis robotic arm and a scaled prosthetic knee joint to perform the ISO 10328:2016 tests as a proof of concept. This approach aims to provide an affordable, low-maintenance, and compact testing method, advancing the field of biomechatronics and human- machine interaction.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: The 11th International Conference on Automation, Robotics, and Applications (ICARA 2025)
• Start Date: Feb 12, 2025
• End Date: Feb 14, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Jan 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 11, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13739159