Mind-controlled robots sound like something from a science fiction film, but the future has arrived courtesy of Australian engineers.
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Working in collaboration with the Australian Army and Defence Innovation Hub, researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have developed technology that harnesses brain waves to operate four-legged robots. And the ADF has demonstrated its potential.
How do they work?
While the design was complicated, UTS electronics professor Francesca Lacopi told ACM the process could be used by anyone.
The greatest barrier to using the device was if someone's hair was too long and obstructed the sensor.
"There is no reason why you shouldn't be able to [operate the technology], provided you have short hair," she said.
"It takes a little bit of time to find the right spot for the right people, but it's not a training-intensive algorithm."
To operate the technology, graphene sensors are attached to the back of a user's scalp and they wear a helmet-like device that displays white squares.
By concentrating on a particular square, the user's brain waves are detected and translated into commands.
Early results from ADF testing revealed 94 per cent accuracy in controlling the robot, which professor Laconi said was pleasing.
They would now work towards achieving 100 per cent accuracy with the technology, and improving its response time, she said.
"Of course the next six per cent is going to take a lot more time to gain," she said.
"Over the next couple of years, basically [we're going to] try to reduce the latency as much as possible and improve the accuracy as much as possible."
What other applications might the technology have?
While the project was designed in consultation with the ADF, Professor Laconi said it had potential beyond military purposes.
She said it could be used in the biomedical space, as similar sensors were already being surgically installed in peoples' brains to help with neurological conditions.
Professor Laconi said there were advantages to using the external sensors as they wereless intrusive.
"If you have a helmet you can just put it on, put it off anytime, without any problem," she said.
"We can make it as discreet as possible without having big bulky things."
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Professor Laconi said some uses for the brainwave technology included being able to operate a motorised wheelchair, monitoring for cognitive stress loads and early detection of neuro-degenerative diseases.
She said the technology could be used to collect patient data while they went about their day, rather than spending extended periods in hospital under observation.
