EMG BASED PROSTHETIC HAND USING LABVIEW

EMG BASED PROSTHETIC HAND USING LABVIEW (VI)

LabVIEW is an acronym for Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench.  It is a computer software development application created by National Instruments™ (Austin, Texas) that aims to aid scientists and researchers in gathering and understanding data using computer programs.  LabVIEW is a G graphical programming software that utilizes graphical objects to symbolize lines of code instead of the average programmers’ text-based languages.  In the source code of this graphical program, data execution depends on the flow of data.  What may take days in C++ or Java written code is cut down to hours in G programming.  Add to this, LabVIEW has built a general purpose library of functions and subroutines for most programming tasks.  The time saved allows the user to fully focus and understand how data is flowing.  Even though some type of programming experience is useful, a novice in text-based programming language(s) can grasp the mechanics of LabVIEW because it is a graphical programming language utilizing iconic symbols to illustrate program action.

Operating LabVIEW

                              The building blocks of the LabVIEW program are called Virtual Instruments.  The name comes from the fact that the program emulates the appearance and tasks of physical instruments while still operating in the same capability as a text-based program.  There are three key components to any VI: the front panel, the block diagram, and the icon and connector pane.

Front Panel

The front panel is the VI’s interactive interface built with controls (inputs) and indicators (outputs) that replicate conventional instruments, like thermostats or knobs, as may be found in the real world. The controls that are built on the front panel.

Block diagram

The block diagram is the source code location for executing programs in LabVIEW and is equivalent to text-based programming such as C++.  The block diagram has three central parts to its source code: nodes, wires, and terminals.  This is the site where the wiring of graphical objects or terminals is connected to the functional nodes.  Terminals are the controls (inputs) and indicators (outputs) of the block diagram.  When compared with written source code, nodes are equal to statements, functions, and subroutines.  An example of a node may be an addition function or a while loop.  The addition function is considered a lower-level VI.  It is part of the general purpose LabVIEW library of functions and subroutines for programming tasks.  Execution of the program, with all three—nodes, terminals, and wires—can occur when wiring between the terminals and nodes has been connected to designate the flow of data.  The terminals in the front panel have parallel terminals on the block diagram; thereby data continuously flows from the interface in the front panel to the source code in the block diagram and back to the interface.

In order to include robotic arm to the human body we use electromyogram generated from the human muscles. Here we introduced  the  attachment of an robotic hand  performing the same actions similar to the normal human hand working with the help  of the electromyographic potentials generated from the different muscles  that included in performing different actions

In our project we create database programme to replace electrode Interface because it is difficult to use needle electrodes practically so we go for database only and in this project we create a artificial hand with gear wheels and DC motors assembly and it is controlled through LABVIEW. In labview software we create database using threshold values for each and every hand movement. Here we generate four commands from labview accourding to database Threshold values and as per that the artificial hand driven through motor Drivers. Thus as per command the artificial hand generates action according

 to that.