Bionic Arms for Everyone: The Promise of Low-Cost EMG Prosthetics

Prosthetic technology has improved greatly in recent decades, especially with the growth of electromyography, or EMG, control systems. EMG prosthetics use electrical signals from muscles to control artificial limbs, making movement more natural than older body-powered designs. Advanced systems such as the DEKA LUKE Arm and the Ottobock bebionic hand show how modern prosthetics can offer multiple grips, wrist motion, and more precise control. However, these systems are often expensive and difficult to access, especially for users outside well-funded medical systems. At the same time, lower-cost systems such as the Open Bionics Hero Arm and open-source designs connected to e-NABLE and Arduino-based projects are making myoelectric prosthetics more affordable for wider groups of users. This paper asks whether low-cost EMG prosthetics are feasible alternatives to high-performance devices. Using a qualitative comparative method based on secondary research, it examines four case studies: the Open Bionics Hero Arm, the DEKA LUKE Arm, the Ottobock bebionic hand, and low-cost open-source EMG systems. The comparison focuses on accessibility, control, performance, and real-world usability. The study finds that low-cost EMG prosthetics clearly improve accessibility. Some low-cost systems begin around a few thousand dollars, while open-source community-made devices may be even cheaper. They can complete basic tasks such as gripping, holding, and carrying light objects. However, they generally provide less precision, fewer advanced control features, and lower durability than high-performance systems. High-end devices perform better, but their price, training demands, and limited availability make them less realistic for many users. Overall, low-cost EMG prosthetics are a practical and important solution for increasing access, even though they do not yet match elite devices in performance. Future progress should focus on narrowing the gap between affordability and functionality.