Researcher develops mind-controlled robotic arm

Jun 21, 2019

New Delhi, June 21 (ANI): A collaborative team of researchers has developed the first-ever successful mind-controlled robotic arm, which can help people with disability. Using a non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) has been shown to achieve good performance for controlling robotic devices using only the signals sensed from brain implants. When controlled with high precision, they can be used to complete daily tasks. A grand challenge in BCI research is to develop less invasive or even totally non-invasive technology that would allow paralysed patients to control their environment or robotic limbs using their own “thoughts”. However, BCIs that use non-invasive external sensing, rather than brain implants, receive 'dirtier' signals, leading to the current lower resolution and less precise control. The technology has, to date, been tested in 68 able-bodied human subjects (up to 10 sessions for each subject), including virtual device control and controlling of a robotic arm for continuous pursuit. The technology is directly applicable to patients, and the team plans to conduct clinical trials in the near future.