Control quadcopter aircraft by thinking

This project aims to help research devices that support the disabled / disabled, for example, legs / arms or suits that can be controlled through thinking.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota in the United States in collaboration with the National Science Society are experimenting with thinking to control quadcopter (four-propeller control aircraft), through a smart hood. The hat has 63 electrodes and is pumped with 2 types of gels to help it connect directly to the scalp (no need for minor surgery to attach to the skin), from which the testers' thoughts can be read to dictate for the plane. The smooth handling of a quadcopter is not easy, the tester needs to spend at least 20 hours practicing to control the aircraft through emulator software, before trying it out in real life.

The operator will sit in front of an image display of the quadcopter through a camera, allowing the team to observe the control process. The aircraft is set to control through the operator's mindset.

The operator will imagine that he is using his right hand, left hand or both hands, the operator will control the operation of the aircraft. If the operator imagines him lifting his left hand, the plane will turn left, if he imagines bringing both hands up, the plane will fly higher.

'Our research shows that for the first time, humans can control a device by thinking, through signals of brain waves ,' said Bin He, the leader of the research team at the University of Minnesota's Faculty of Science. and Engineering said.

He and his colleagues plan to study more deeply about the interface between people and machines, so that they can help and support paralyzed or disabled victims with devices that support it. support

'Our next goal is to control a robot arm with brainwave signals,' he said. 'My ultimate goal is to develop a system of interfaces between people and machines that can support disabled and neurotic patients ".

The reason for the use of quadcopter is because the aircraft has gyroscope and 4 rotors that are independent of each other, making it automatically balanced when blown by the wind, according to the tilt, so Flight test by thinking will be more accurate and effective. The University of Minnesota said the project aims to help research devices for disabled / disabled people, such as legs / arms or suits that can be controlled through thinking.

The University of Minnesota team is not the only research group in the field of brain-controlled electronics. Scientists at Essex University also have research at the NASA Center in creating a interface that connects people and machines that can be used in a spacecraft simulation model. The team hopes to one day use this technology to support astronauts.