An EMG Control System for an Ultrasonic Motor Using a PSoC Microcomputer

The author investigated the possibility of developing a myoelectric elbow prosthesis powered by an ultrasonic motor. Ultrasonic motors have some features that make them uniquely suited to powering prosthetics: they deliver high torque under low-speed operation, they are compact in size and they produce no electromagnetic noise. Typically, the threshold-level of an EMG (electromyogram) is adopted as the method for myoelectrically controlling prostheses using a microcomputer. However, this method is not suitable for every prosthesis. Here, the author proposes an EMG control system for a myoelectric elbow prosthesis that uses a PSoC microcomputer combined with an accelerometer to create an ultrasonic motor. The chapter shows that the EMG control system developed by the author effectively controlled the ultrasonic motor.