Team Bionic
Enhancing Prosthesis Control and Intuitiveness Through Simulation
About Us
Team Bionic, a group of undergraduate researchers in the Gemstone Honors program, aims to design a study that simulates the use of an upper-limb myoelectric prosthesis in combination with additional sensory feedback, tracking performance, and mental workload across repeated trials to identify strategies that can shorten the learning curve and improve long-term usability.
Our Mission
There is currently limited research on how the learning curve, mental workload, and self-efficacy influence a person’s progress during prosthesis training. Our goal is to analyze how such metrics evolve during the different phases of our study and to identify ways to make learning prosthetic control easier and more natural for the user. Furthermore, we hope to advance the research and use this simulation-based training as a tool to expand accessible training opportunities for prosthetic users.
Why it matters
Although a range of upper-limb prostheses exists for amputees, the complexity of the human hand and the lack of intuitive control remain major factors affecting whether long-term adoption and consistent usage are a possibility. Myoelectric prostheses, while offering more degrees of freedom, often present challenges such as high mental workload and difficulties with intuitive control, leading to high abandonment rates.
Additionally, access to advanced prosthetic care is still limited by the cost of rehabilitation, the distance from the patient, and other barriers that prevent users from achieving an intuitive and comfortable prosthesis.
Through this work, we hope to reduce those obstacles that lead to prosthesis abandonment and enhance the quality of life and long-term prosthesis use of individuals with limb loss.
Timeline
Want to find out more about Team Bionic?
Visit our website at https://umcp.my.canva.site/team-bionic-gemstone
Follow us on Instagram: @gemsbionic
Have further questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us
Email: bionic.gems.umd@gmail.com
Phone number: (202) 709-8547
Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please see your tax advisor for details.
$10
Support the team
Your contribution will help us expand accessible learning opportunities for prosthetic users and get closer to our goal!
$15
Arduino Unos
Your contribution at this level helps us purchase the necessary Arduino UNOs needed to create our simulation-based study.
$20
Electrical components
Your contribution helps support the purchase of additional electrical components, including wires, to carry out our study.
$50
Sensors
Your contribution helps fund a portion of the cost for EMG sensors, which are crucial to the study and simulation.
$85
Participant Compensation
Your contribution supports the funding for fair participant compensation during the duration of our study.
$100
Electrodes
Your contribution helps fund the purchase of electrodes to be used in the participant study.
$150
Computer
Your contribution will help fund a portion of the cost of the computer that will be used to collect data and run the trials.