Prosthetic Tail
Nature’s Nest
Prototyping a responsive prosthetic tail for dogs using Arduino and sensors.
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About Prosthetic Tail
Prototyping a responsive prosthetic tail for dogs using Arduino and sensors.
During my time volunteering at Jivdaya Charitable Trust, I saw firsthand how deeply a dog’s tail contributes to its life—both physically and emotionally. The tail is not just an extension of the spine; it plays a vital role in balance, communication, and emotional expression. Watching dogs that had lost their tails struggle to maintain balance and express themselves inspired me to develop a solution that could restore both functionality and connection.
With support from Anant National University’s Aarambh Incubation Centre and mentorship from Prof. Parth Shah and Dr. Priyam Parikh, I began designing a prosthetic tail. I combined my interests in animal welfare, biomechanics, and engineering to move the idea from concept to prototype. Using 3D printing, I created a lightweight structure that could be worn comfortably with a cotton jacket. The prototype integrates servo motors to mimic natural wagging motions, activated through capacitive touch sensors that detect petting, making the interaction feel genuine. Additionally, an IMU sensor was embedded to help restore aspects of balance—a function that is often overlooked but is central to a dog’s agility and comfort.
The prosthetic tail is not merely a mechanical aid; it is a bridge between humans and dogs. By allowing dogs to express emotions through wagging again, it strengthens the human-animal bond while also improving mobility. Seeing the project evolve from an idea into a functional device reaffirmed my belief that engineering can be both compassionate and innovative.
- Looking ahead, I aim to further refine this prosthetic—making it more affordable, accessible, and customizable for dogs of different sizes and needs. At university, I hope to explore advanced materials, robotics, and sensor integration to bring this vision closer to reality. My ultimate goal is to ensure that no dog has to lose the ability to balance, communicate, or express joy simply because of the loss of a tail
Research paper link- DOI:10.56975/ijedr.v13i3.301670
(INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH)
Honoured to have been awarded the CREST Gold Award by the British Science Association.
- Learners must have a personal computer
- Vokalia and Consonantia, there live
- Far far away, behind the word mountains,
- Learners must have a personal computer
- Far far away, behind the word mountains,
- Vokalia and Consonantia, there live
- Learners must have a personal computer
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country