A Fuzzy Logic with distributed control monitoring (D S) sy tern i implemented to
control multiple degree-of-freedom (DOF) prosthetic fingers. Ther are four fingers
with 3-DOF and a thumb with 4-DOF. Five identical microcontrollers programmed with
Fuzzy Logic ontroller (FLC) and a ystem Handler are employed to control and
monitor the fingers and the thumb to replicate the desired hand action of the grasp, the
key pinch, the pulp to pulp pinch, the tripod pinch, and the open hand. Each finger is
equipp d with position sensors at the pi ot joints and a tactile-pressure sensor at the
fingertip. The finger mo ements are programmed to follow given set points and stopped
,. h ne er an obstacle is encountered and the pressure of the tactile sensor exceeds a
specified limit. This allows the fingers and thumb to wrap round an object without
crushing it. DC motors with reduced gear heads are used as actuators and they are
dri en by H-Bridge sv itches. Input signals to the switches in the form of Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) and direction signals are generated by the microcontroller . The
signal r present control action of the FLC. Membership functions of the FLC were
tuned and the rule \ ere formed to obtain the desired response. Distributed control is
implemented by conn cting all finger microcontrollers to a main microcontroller that
can b integrated with the Brain omputer Interface. The o erall system was
constructed and te ted successfully to control the prosthetic hand