Recent Developments in Neurotechnology

The idea of moving robotic devices just by thinking, through use of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), has been research area that attracted attention since 1970s. BCI systems are used to allow users to communicate with computers and other external devices using brain signals. Instead of depending on peripheral nerves and muscles BCI directly measures brain activity from the user’s scalp, to extract his/her intent from the signals and transforms that into control signal to manipulate an external system, such as neuroprosthesis, mobile robots etc. Besides restoring communication and control in paralyzed patients, BCIs are becoming useful to healthy people too.

Mobile robots are small platforms that can move on wheels, legs, caterpillars. As an assistive technology, they are used to bring back mobility of elderly and disabled people. An EEG based brain-controlled robot is a robot that uses EEG based BCIs to receive human control. Due to the acceptable signal quality and easy to use equipment, EEG is the widely used brain signal collection method in BCI applications. The most common example of EEG based mobile robot is wheelchair. Such a system has important implications to improve the wellbeing of sensitive populations, such as those suffering from paralysis or certain neuromuscular diseases which inhibit the use of wheelchairs.