Design and testing of a bionic dancing prosthesis

This study’s aim was to develop a bionic ankle-foot prosthesis wich allowed expressive dance movement. Based on the kinematics of a non-amputee dancing professional Rumba steps: Basic, Double-rock, Crossovers with underarm turn and Open break.

Prosthetic design often focuses on improving daily activity. This can often mean that prosthetic limbs are too cumbersome for more expressive activities, such as dance.

A dancer’s limb was created by modification of an existing limb, allowing the dancer to perform movements where the legs crossed without catching the other leg and reducing the total mass.

The control system aimed to accurately recreate the ankle torque and angle relationship.

A professional dancer with a unilateral amputation below the knee tested the new limb. The data collected in the force lab was compared to the rumba performed on the amputees daily use limb and

The limb proved more similar to natural movement than a comparative conventional prosthetic in all four steps.

Double amputee performs Rumba: