Control of Prosthetic Hands: Challenges and emerging avenues

Controlling a prosthetic hand is not just a matter of designing a capable device. It also involves sensing and interpreting movement, achieving a reliable fit, evaluating performance in daily life, and making the system work with its user. Control of Prosthetic Hands: Challenges and emerging avenues brings these connected questions together in an edited overview of the field.

From control signals to clinical use

The opening chapters introduce prosthesis control, electromyography, and the design of bespoke sockets, then examine how upper-limb prostheses can be evaluated in clinics, laboratories, and real-world settings. This combination gives readers a view of both how control approaches are developed and how their performance may be assessed beyond the laboratory.

New ways to sense and communicate

Later chapters explore magnetomyography and neural interfaces, including implantable technologies, direct nerve-based control, and sensory feedback. These topics place signal acquisition and interpretation alongside the challenge of creating a more informative connection between a person and a prosthesis.

The user is part of the system

User–prosthesis coadaptation considers how both the person and the control system may adapt. The volume also addresses surgical considerations, residual-limb pain management, and the practical importance of fitting and evaluating devices for their intended users.

Children’s prosthetics and future directions

Two chapters focus on child prosthetics, including co-design, additive manufacturing, socket fit, game-based training, and the design of a transradial prosthesis with soft grippers. The final chapter looks toward future developments in myoelectric control, including rapid prototyping, 3D printing, implantable solutions, and new sensing modalities.

With contributions spanning engineering and clinical perspectives, this technical volume will interest researchers, engineers, clinicians, and advanced students working in prosthetics, rehabilitation engineering, and related fields.