A new brain-computer interface (BCI) has been developed that allows individuals to control a wheelchair using their thoughts. The BCI system aims to provide independent mobility for people with spinal cord injuries. The technology has been successfully tested by a group of participants who were able to navigate an obstacle course using the BCI-controlled wheelchair. However, the technology is not yet market-ready. The BCI system works by detecting the electrical brain impulses of the user and converting them into commands for the electric wheelchair. The system must be individually trained for each user, with the computer learning which impulse corresponds to which desired action. The BCI system also includes a safety feature that uses artificial intelligence to stop the wheelchair in case of an impending collision.
The BCI system was developed by an international team of scientists from the EPFL in Lausanne and the BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil in Bochum. The system uses an encephalography cap to read the electrical impulses of the user’s brain, which are then used to control the wheelchair. The system is trained by recording the user’s brain waves while they are at rest and then having them imagine different movement patterns. The BCI system then filters out the irrelevant brain waves and uses the remaining electrical impulses to determine the desired movement. The system can be trained to respond to different thoughts, such as imagining moving the hands to turn the wheelchair right or imagining moving the feet to turn left.
The BCI system has the potential to provide individuals with spinal cord injuries with greater independence and mobility. However, the technology is still in the early stages of development and requires further testing and refinement before it can be made available to the public. The scientists involved in the project hope that the BCI system will eventually allow people who are unable to use their arms or legs to regain some level of autonomy and mobility.
