Automated Cyclic Testing of Prosthetic Knee Joints Using a 4-Axis Robotic Arm: Enhancing Biomechatronics and Human-Machine Interaction

The complex nature of knee joints makes designing and testing prosthetic replacements challenging. The ISO 10328:2016 standard requires rigorous static, constant, and cyclic force testing, which involves high forces and variable angles, adding to the complexity. Current prosthetic knee testers are often expensive, high-maintenance, and space-consuming, and many do not meet the ISO 10328:2016 requirements. This paper reviews existing testing methodologies and identifies their limitations. It then introduces a novel solution using a 4-axis robotic arm and a scaled prosthetic knee joint to perform the ISO 10328:2016 tests as a proof of concept. This approach aims to provide an affordable, low-maintenance, and compact testing method, advancing the field of biomechatronics and human-machine interaction.