Development of a Humanly Supported Hybrid System Using PIC Microcontrollers for Prosthethic Limb Applications

Walking is one of the principal and complex movements of the human body. The human locomotion is a periodic physical activity occurring by driving of the bones by muscles, which are stimulated by electrical signals transferred by neurons from the brain. In the present living conditions people with muscle weakness and partial paralysis of limb are increasing day by day and to perform daily activities for such people an assistive device is necessary with which they can do their daily activities like ordinary people. Prosthetic limbs are incredibly valuable to amputees because it can help restore some of the capabilities lost with the amputated limb. This paper focuses on developing a driving circuit to actuate the motorized assistive device. The driving circuit for the supervisory control of DC motors to lock and unlock knee for a limb during locomotion is designed. Here PIC microcontroller is used to control the DC series motors for the desired position.