Shape of things to comeRobot controlled by human thoughts
Japanese researchers develop a robot that can be given commands by human thoughts; a helmet equipped with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors which measure the changes in cerebral blood flow associated with specific thoughts — and transmits the information to the robot
Researchers at the Honda Research Institute, the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), and the Shimadzu Corporation have developed a system that can allow a user to control a robot by thought alone. The system makes use of the fact that, during the human thought process, changes in electrical current and blood flow occur in the brain.
To control the robot, the user wears a helmet equipped with electroencephalographic (EEG) sensors, which measure the changes in the electrical potential on the scalp, as well as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors, which measure the changes in cerebral blood flow. Once the data is acquired, a computer performs a statistical analysis on it to determine the thoughts of the user. This information is then transmitted to the robot, which, in this case, is Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot, which makes corresponding movements such as raising its arm or leg.
According to the companies, an accuracy rate of more than 90 percent was achieved in the tests.
