Work-in-Progress: A Novel Fault Tolerant Scheme for a Wireless Modular Prosthetic Limb

Abstract

This paper documents a study of a wireless architecture for the Johns Hopkins modular prosthetic limb and it also presents a novel scheme to enhance the architecture’s reliability. Nowadays, the advanced prosthetic limbs, which are based on NCSs (Network Control Systems), are wired systems which are subjected to the wear and tear problem as well as the mobility limitation issue. Therefore, wired models can be replaced by Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) which can offer the same function and prevent the wear and tear and mobility problem. Moreover, medical applications such as the prosthetic arms are critical, real time and life-saving applications that require high reliability as faults in such systems can cause severe consequences. The well-known Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) designed by Johns Hopkins applied physics laboratory is revisited as it is the base of this study. The wireless architecture of the Johns Hopkins arm is simulated using RIVERBED. In addition, a fault-tolerant model for the same architecture is also simulated. Both, the fault free and faulty scenarios undergo interference analysis as well as a 95% confidence analysis. The simulation results have shown zero packet loss and the end-to-end delays are within the required range; hence, the system requirements are satisfied.