Swiss engineers have developed a technology of "mental control" of objects
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Swiss engineers built a robot to transfer the effect of telepresence, control of which requires only a network of electrodes attached to the user's head.
Modern technologies of "mental" control of objects at a distance are based on the use of a constructively simple device. This headset, which consists of a set of skin-contacting electrodes, measuring the electrical activity of the brain. The principle of its action is the same as in the conduct of electroencephalography (EEG). However, instead of sitting still and listening to doctors, the person himself gives commands, making mental effort and imagining how, for example, he moves figurines on a computer screen.
Scientists from Switzerland under the guidance of the bioengineer of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL) José del Millan decided to put such technology on the service of disabled people whose limbs are paralyzed. They created a neurocomputer interface that allows you to control a wheeled vehicle to simulate the presence effect.
The robot is a modification of the basic platform Robotino of the German company Festo. Among other things, he has a video camera, as well as a laptop with wireless Internet access and Skype running on it.
To test the efficiency of the system, specialists attracted two patients whose legs were paralyzed for 6 and 7 years. The researcher conducted a distance learning course with them, explaining the rules of "mental" handling of the robot by an hour per week for six weeks. This was enough to ensure that the subjects who were within 100 km of the device, learned to roll it in different directions, passing obstacles around it at the same time.
The developers were very pleased with the result and promised to further equip the robot with a manipulator for grabbing objects. The system can become a basis for creating algorithms of "brain" control as remote located mechanisms, as well as artificial limbs or a wheelchair.
The study was presented at the conference on biomedical technologies EMBC 2011, which was held from August 30 to September 3 in Boston (USA).