Open Access

Philipp Beckerle, Steffen Willwacher, Minas Liarokapis, Matthew P. Bowers, Marko B. Popović

• Although compensating for the loss of body parts through the use of biomechatronic systems presents a significant engineering challenge, well-designed prosthetic devices have immense potential for enhancing the quality of life of their users. This chapter provides an introduction, a review of recent technologies, and a deeper insight into prosthetic limbs. It also outlines the current demographicAlthough compensating for the loss of body parts through the use of biomechatronic systems presents a significant engineering challenge, well-designed prosthetic devices have immense potential for enhancing the quality of life of their users. This chapter provides an introduction, a review of recent technologies, and a deeper insight into prosthetic limbs. It also outlines the current demographic and societal situation and developments. Biomechanical fundamentals concerning musculoskeletal function, its modeling, and experimental studies are described to provide a solid basis for understanding manipulation and locomotion using prosthetic devices. A detailed discussion of general technical requirements outlines the challenges faced by prosthetic engineers and indicates their relation to the users’ perspectives. Upper- and lower-limb prosthetic systems are discussed in depth, which includes all biomechatronic subsystems, such as mechanical systems, actuators, sensors, controls, and user interfaces. Typical categories of amputations are introduced and the characteristics of passive, semiactive, and active/powered devices are discussed. Finally, approaches to systematically consider users’ needs and experiences in prosthetic engineering and visions of possible long-term developments are presented.…