As part of the annual commemoration ceremony of Martyr Wissam Eid, held under the Patronage of H.E. Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the Branch of Engineers in the Liberal Profession Sector of the Future Movement honored the best graduation projects offered by students in Lebanese universities. The project of the RHU Engineering student team consisting of Bahaa Eddine Shaaban (CCE), Ahmad Toutounji (MECA), Huda Turjman (BIOM) and Rola Mardini (BIOM), was one of the four winning projects out of nearly 20 submitted proposals. The team’s advisor is Dr. Rached Nabil Zantout, associate professor at RHU Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The team received the Wissam Eid Award for Scientific Innovation on Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Beirut Waterfront in the Seaside Pavilion.
The RHU team designed a 3D printed prosthetic arm for amputees that is capable of moving like a real hand using EMG signals from alternative muscles to control the movement of the 3D printed hand through servo motors. In addition, the prostheses includes temperature and pressure sensors that are used as sensory input, and actuators controlled by outputs to move the fingers. The prosthetic arm will also include a communication system (with a mobile phone) connected via Bluetooth to detect errors and download possible program updates.
The project was chosen because it met and exceeded the criteria set by the organizing committee. The project was developed by students currently enrolled in the university and are under the age of 27. Moreover the projects is a multidisciplinary engineering project with realistic goals and serves the Lebanese society through giving amputees their independence and the ability to be productive and part of the workforce for a value that is a fraction of the USD 50,000 set by the organizers.
