An Evolvable Hardware Chip and Its Application as a Multi-Function Prosthetic Hand Controller

Thispaperdescribesthe applicationof geneticalgorithmsto the biomedicalengineering problem of a multi-function myoelectricprosthetic hand controller. This is achievedby an innovativeLSI chip (EHW chip), i. e. , a VLSIimplementation of Evolvable Hardware(EHW), whichcan adapt its owncircuit structure to its environment autonomouslyand quickly by using genetic algorithms. Usually, a long training period (almost onemonth)is required beforemulti-functionmyoelectric prosthetic handscan be controlled, however, the EHW chip controller developed here can reducethis period andit has beendesignedfor easy implementationwithin a prosthetic hand. Thereare plans to commercialize the prosthetic hand with the EHW chip, and the medical departmentof Hokkaido Universityhas already decidedto adoptthis for clinical treatment.

Authors

• Isamu Kajitani
• Tsutomu Hoshino
• University of Tsukuba; Nobuki Kajihara
• Adaptive Devices NEC Laboratory
• RWCP; Masaya Iwata
• Tetsuya Higuchi
• Electrotechnical Laboratory

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