Robotic prosthetic hands - A review

 Robotic Prosthetic Hands (RPH) are made with the aim of assisting amputees with activities of daily living (ADL). Upper limb amputations lead to physical and mental difficulty because of the many uses of the human hand. Researchers have been working to improve sensory feedback and dexterous manipulation in these devices to improve embodiment and reduce the abandonment rates. Efforts to implement sensory feedback have been explored by researchers in the field of biomedical engineering whereas efforts to improve dexterous manipulation are directed towards the fields of mechanical engineering and computer science. There are numerous problems faced in the field of robotic prostheses such as end point control, sensory feedback, the weight/dexterity dilemma, and the implementation of invasive methods. RPH learning to grasp from touch with tactile sensors is an additional area of research that is promising for robotic grippers. The design of RPH requires multidisciplinary knowledge related to physiology, anatomy, electronics, mechanical design, and software which renders it a complex challenge. This body of work offers a holistic review of the state of the art of current RPH and the subsequent opportunities for advancement in the field.