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Mind-control robots a reality?

Date:
March 20, 2023
Source:
University of Technology Sydney
Summary:
Researchers have developed biosensor technology that will allow you to operate devices, such as robots and machines, solely through thought control.
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Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have developed biosensor technology that will allow you to operate devices, such as robots and machines, solely through thought control.

The advanced brain-computer interface was developed by Distinguished Professor Chin-Teng Lin and Professor Francesca Iacopi, from the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT, in collaboration with the Australian Army and Defence Innovation Hub.

As well as defence applications, the technology has significant potential in fields such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and healthcare -- for example allowing people with a disability to control a wheelchair or operate prosthetics.

"The hands-free, voice-free technology works outside laboratory settings, anytime, anywhere. It makes interfaces such as consoles, keyboards, touchscreens and hand-gesture recognition redundant," said Professor Iacopi.

"By using cutting edge graphene material, combined with silicon, we were able to overcome issues of corrosion, durability and skin contact resistance, to develop the wearable dry sensors," she said.

A new study outlining the technology has just been published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Applied Nano Materials. It shows that the graphene sensors developed at UTS are very conductive, easy to use and robust.

The hexagon patterned sensors are positioned over the back of the scalp, to detect brainwaves from the visual cortex. The sensors are resilient to harsh conditions so they can be used in extreme operating environments.

The user wears a head-mounted augmented reality lens which displays white flickering squares. By concentrating on a particular square, the brainwaves of the operator are picked up by the biosensor, and a decoder translates the signal into commands.

The technology was recently demonstrated by the Australian Army, where soldiers operated a Ghost Robotics quadruped robot using the brain-machine interface. The device allowed hands-free command of the robotic dog with up to 94% accuracy.

"Our technology can issue at least nine commands in two seconds. This means we have nine different kinds of commands and the operator can select one from those nine within that time period," Professor Lin said.

"We have also explored how to minimise noise from the body and environment to get a clearer signal from an operator's brain," he said.

The researchers believe the technology will be of interest to the scientific community, industry and government, and hope to continue making advances in brain-computer interface systems.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Technology Sydney. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Shaikh Nayeem Faisal, Tien-Thong Nguyen Do, Tasauf Torzo, Daniel Leong, Aiswarya Pradeepkumar, Chin-Teng Lin, Francesca Iacopi. Noninvasive Sensors for Brain–Machine Interfaces Based on Micropatterned Epitaxial Graphene. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2023; DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.2c05546

Cite This Page:

University of Technology Sydney. "Mind-control robots a reality?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 March 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230320102104.htm>.
University of Technology Sydney. (2023, March 20). Mind-control robots a reality?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230320102104.htm
University of Technology Sydney. "Mind-control robots a reality?." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230320102104.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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