Designs for a Cooler Planet
Discover tomorrow at Aalto University's biggest exhibition! Open 1 September – 30 October 2026.
A prosthesis that feels like extension of the body
Researchers are developing a prosthesis that better understands the complex interaction between muscles and nerves, enabling more precise and natural control.
Although modern prostheses are powerful and functional, many users eventually stop using them because they do not feel comfortable or natural.
Conventional prostheses are controlled by electrical signals from a small number of muscles and typically allow only one or two movements. Everyday challenges, such as fatigue, can weaken the signal and reduce performance.
Researchers at Aalto University, together with clinical experts, are developing a prosthesis whose control system learns from hundreds of tiny muscle sensors. This allows it to interpret neural signals in greater detail, resulting in smoother control and greater independence in daily life.
‘In this way, users regain not only movement, but also the autonomy that comes with it,’ says Professor Ivan Vujaklija.
Find this and dozens of other fresh perspectives, bold experiments and practical solutions in the autumn exhibition.
