An Evolvable Hardware Chip and Its Application as a Multi-Function Prosthetic Hand Controller

This paper describes the application of genetic algorithms to the biomedical engineering problem of a multi-function myoelectric prosthetic hand controller. This is achieved by an innovative LSI chip (EHW chip), i.e., a VLSI implementation of Evolvable Hardware (EHW), which can adapt its own circuit structure to its environment autonomously and quickly by using genetic algorithms. Usually, a long training period (almost one month) is required before multi-function myoelectric prosthetic hands can be controlled, however, the EHW chip controller developed here can reduce this period and it has been designed for easy implementation within a prosthetic hand. There are plans to commercialize the prosthetic hand with the EHW chip, and the medical department of Hokkaido University has already decided to adopt this for clinical treatment.