The creation, and implementation, of Prosthesis is expensive and inefficient in production, and can be more easily manufactured through the implementation of 3D printed supplements.
Indepth Analysis:
This project utilizes the open source code for the “ADA” hand, developed by Open Bionics. This project focuses upon the replacement of lost appendages of amputees. The more natural design and movement, as well as lower production costs, are beneficial to the psychology of amputees, and makes the equipment more affordable. This means that corporations that produce these products can have a higher income, because more amputees in need can afford to purchase their product, and the product is of higher quality, providing the incentive for purchase by amputees. The production is already possible at the moment, but refinement in design and manufacturing is plausible and the center focus of this research.
Background Information:
The Ada Hand is a fully articulated robot hand from Open Bionics. This product is a robotic hand kit and comes as a kit of parts that can be assembled in around 1 hour using standard tools. The hand has 5 degrees of freedom (DOF) and can be controlled from a PC or MAC over USB connection. The Ada hand houses all of the actuators required to move the fingers as well as its own custom control printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB is based around the ATMEGA2560 microcontroller and can be programmed using the Arduino programming environment which will be familiar to many developers.
Current solutions in the community cost about $11,000 USD, and do not have many degrees of motion. The ADA hand is an example of a cheaper alternative, only costing $500. However, the internals of the ADA hand are fragile and easily broken. Additionally, the device is not medically approved, because it does not have enough mechanical potential to actually be applicable to daily living, having problems keeping grip on objects and inadequacies with precise movement. Another important factor is the realistic look of the ADA hand, the more commonly used alternatives move in a robotic fashion and not humanlike. While both products have benefits, they also have major problems that need to be improved. In conclusion, the ADA hand is a step in a new direction. The production costs are much lower; however, it also has fallacies that are major hindrances. The future production of prosthesis will attempt to combine the sturdiness, and strength, of more expensive alternatives, and the ease of access, and cheap manufacturing potential, of the ADA hand. Improvements upon the design would include the utilization of an alternative of locomotion than linear actuators, and improving the capacity for neurological input.
Needs Statement:
The development of 3D printed prosthesis is defined as an advancement in prosthesis production and is found around the world. On the business level, the development of 3D printed prosthesis will affect thousands of amputees each year. Over the past 10 years, the development of 3D printed prosthesis has improved as 3D printers have improved, and better materials become available. The causes of the development of 3D printed prosthesis is an attempt to counter the high prices of regular prosthesis sold on the market. The major causes of this problem on a business level appear to be that many manufacturers dislike the experimental nature of 3D manufacturing. The finance department problem is different from the IT Department problem, because the IT department is focused on the technology, while the finance department worries about the costs of the 3D printers and material’s costs.
In addition to the impact that the problem has on customer, the current solution costs $1000-$5000 in services, consultancy and other efforts. Others that may be affected by this new development are the corporations themselves. The consequences of not applying this new manufacturing method will result in the continued high expenses to produce and purchase these prosthesis, while the benefits of accepting the new method means that the prosthesis are more available to those in need.
I have undertaken several strategies to research the development of 3D printed prosthesis. Specifically, I have observed the manufacturing of one of this 3D printed prosthesis in the STEM Laboratory. I obtained an open source 3D printable prosthesis, produced by Open Bionics, called the “ADA Hand.” I manufactured a multitude of this prosthesis, creating variations in size and shape of the “ADA Hand,” and noted the benefits and weaknesses of the new alternative.
Research into this new manufacturing of 3D printed prosthesis by myself, has revealed that the new method of production is cheaper and more easily accessible. However, the new 3D printed prosthesis have frail internals, and can be brittle. I observed that the current solution is too expensive and not human in design, but is much stronger and durable.
The major barriers for clients to utilize the current prosthesis sold, are the high expenses to purchase the more durable and advanced models. Barriers in the community that impact change in the implementation of this new production methods are the lack of incentive to shift towards a cheaper alternative, as well as the lack of product testing and durability of 3D printed prosthesis.
Solution Benefits
The outcomes of this Capstone project is to place emphasis on the improvement of prosthesis and the benefits it brings. The cheaper manufacturing not only benefits the producers of prosthesis, but also the amputees that purchase them. Additionally, by improving the availibility of prosthesis through 3-D printing, it also brings about the opportunity to improve the current designs. Currently the ADA hand mimics the look of a real hand better than other professional retailers, but it has weak internals and can be easily damaged. If the internals mechanisms of the prosthesis are improved in durability and functionality, it is easy to prodict that amputees would prefer the ADA hand over other alternatives. This draws from not only being several thousand dollars cheaper to purchase, but also the ADA hand has a human-like appearance which is beneficial for amputees who feel "alienated" by their prosthetic. Overall, the continued improvement upon these devices benefits all parties, and makes the quality of living of amputees much better than without these devices.
Implementation Data Flow Diagram
Architecture Design Data Flow Diagram
Strategic Plan
Quality Assurance Plan
Deliverables
The deliverable expected from the project include:
The prosthesis, which the project based.
3D printer and different components
Engineering reports
The project proposal
Strategic report
Progress report
Web Site
New knowledge
Improved procedures
Design Documents
CIS department can expect to:
Develop new software
Improve 3D models
Push out bug fixes and software corrections
Assist in implementation and supervision of facilities
Stake Holders can expect to deliver to the project:
Increase in profits
Funding for furthering the project
Funding for materials
Outsider information provided on project progress.