The Museum of Science and Technology is hosting the exhibition “Guardians of Innovation – 100 Years of the First Serbian Patent,” showcasing models and prototypes based on registered patent applications from the Intellectual Property Office. The exhibition highlights significant inventions across different historical periods, including pre-1914 innovations by Serbian inventors who lived and worked abroad, such as Nikola Tesla, Mihajlo Pupin, and Milutin Milanković.
Visitors can also see inventions from the museum’s collection, including an artillery rangefinder, a model of a water-heating device, and an active prosthesis for amputees.
The active above-knee prosthesis, patented in 1997 by Professor Miomir Vukobratović, a pioneer of robotics in Serbia and humanoid robotics worldwide, was developed in collaboration with the Mihajlo Pupin Institute.
Equipped with an electric motor, the prosthesis enhances natural walking, making moving flat surfaces and stairs easier. A microprocessor controls the device, allowing users to adjust step length and frequency for optimal adaptation. Sensors in the artificial foot send signals to the motor, while position sensors track knee angles based on the selected walking mode.
The photo of the active prosthesis is used with permission from The Intellectual Property Office.