Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Düşünce kontrollü tekerlekli sandalye

Scientists in Spain have developed a wheelchair that can be controlled by the mind

Videoyu izleyin…,watch video…. makaleyi okuyun….read a article…..

İspanyol bilimadamları, düşünce gücüyle hareket eden tekerlekli sandalye geliştirdiler. Yakında, engelliler sadece düşünerek istedikleri yere gidebilecekler. İspanyol bilimadamlarını geliştirdiği tekerlekli sandalyenin kontrolü düşünce ile sağlanıyor.

Sandalyede, çevrenin üç boyutlu resmini çıkaran bir lazer tarayıcı bulunuyor. Oluşturulan resim, sandalyedeki bir ekrana aktarılıyor, kullanıcı da bu resimde nereye gideceğine yoğunlaşıyor.

Bu sırada kullanıcının başına bağlanan 16 elektrot yardımıyla ekrana yoğunlaşıldığında oluşan beyin aktiviteleri ile tekerlekli sandalye yönlendiriliyor. İstenilen yere gidilebilmesi için sandalyenin tekerleklerinde de çeşitli sensörler yer alıyor.
A research team of the University of Zaragoza has developed a prototype of a brain-actuated wheelchair. During May 2008, five subjects, only using their thoughts, successfully carried navigation and manoeuvrability tasks with the wheelchair in the University. The non-invasive method to record the human neural activity was the EEG and the wheelchair was robotized and equipped with a laser sensor.
This web describes a new non-invasive brainactuated wheelchair that relies on a P300 neurophysiological protocol and automated navigation. When in operation, the user faces a screen displaying a real-time virtual reconstruction of the scenario and concentrates on the location of the space to reach. A visual stimulation process elicits the neurological phenomenon and the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal processing detects the target location. This location is transferred to the autonomous navigation system that drives the wheelchair to the desired location while avoiding collisions with obstacles in the environment detected by the laser scanner. This concept gives the user the flexibility to use the device in unknown and evolving scenarios. The prototype was validated with five healthy participants in three consecutive steps: screening (an analysis of three different groups of visual interface designs), virtual-environment driving, and driving sessions with the wheelchair. On the basis of the results, this paper reports the following evaluation studies: (i) a technical evaluation of the device and all functionalities; (ii) a users’ behavior study; and (iii) a variability study. The overall result was that all the participants were able to successfully operate the device with relative ease, showing a great adaptation as well as a high robustness and low variability of the system.

For more information, download the research paper in which this web page is based on, available here:

I. Iturrate, J.Antelis, J. Minguez and A.Kübler “Non-Invasive Brain-Actuated Wheelchair Based on a P300 Neurophysiological Protocol and Automated Navigation”, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 2009.

(source=personal web page)

It could allow those whose disabilities prevent them from using a conventional joystick to get around merely by thinking about where they want to go.

The wheelchair uses a laser scanner to create a three-dimensional picture of the area around it, which is displayed on a screen in front of the user.

The user then concentrates on the part of the display where they want to go and the chair responds accordingly.

A skullcap fitted with electrodes is used to detect brain activity of the users – and work out their desired destination.

Dr Javier Minguez, who developed the chair at the University of Zaragoza in Spain, said the volunteers took just 45 minutes to learn how to use the chair.

He told New Scientist magazine: “The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the usability of the wheelchair.

“All the subjects successfully solved all the navigation tasks and learned how to deal with the device in a similar way.”

The chair is the latest device to be controlled by the power of thought.

Last month, car giant Honda unveiled a “mind reading” helmet that can control the movements of a robot.

However, the wheelchair prototype is far from being ready for commercial use as it can only handle two thoughts every minute.

Dr Minguez said he hopes to develop faster and more sophisticated versions in the next few years.