A 69-year-old man who is quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury has been able to fly a virtual drone in a simulation thanks to a chip from Blackrock Neurotech. Scientists believe he will be able to fly a real drone as well.
A 69-year-old man who is quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury has been able to fly a virtual drone in a simulation thanks to a chip from Blackrock Neurotech. Scientists believe he will be able to fly a real drone as well.
As Interesting Engineering reports, citing a study in Nature Medicine, this gives an idea of the broad possibilities of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. In this study, scientists studied the capabilities of BCI to control complex systems.
«There are many things where we use multiple separate finger movements, such as typing, sewing, playing a musical instrument. That’s what this line of work is focused on, how we allow control of multiple things at once,» says study co-author Matthew Wilsey, a neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The paralyzed participant in the experiment previously received a brain chip from Blackrock Neurotech. This device consists of 192 electrodes implanted in the motor cortex of the brain, which is responsible for hand movements.
A research team led by Matthew Wilsey of the University of Michigan developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that maps neural signals to specific imagined finger movements. By imagining movements of the thumb, first two fingers, or other groups of fingers, the participant generated distinct electrical signals that controlled the movements of a virtual drone. This allowed the drone to navigate accurately through an obstacle course.
«The goal of creating a quadcopter was shared by our lab and the participant. For him, it was the fulfillment of a dream he felt was lost after his injury. He had a passion and a dream to fly. He felt very inspired, he asked us to make videos and send them to his friends,» Willsey said.
A 69-year-old study participant said that the task required a lot of concentration, similar to that required when playing an instrument, and was an effective mental workout that he enjoyed.
For practicality and safety reasons, the researchers decided to conduct a virtual experiment. However, it was confirmed that the experiment could theoretically be extended to real-life drones.
Despite the advancements in BCI technology, it is still in its early stages. Relying on AI to interpret signals requires personalized training for each user—a process that needs to be repeated periodically due to potential electrode shifts or changes in brain activity over time.
Scientists have previously concluded that temporary electronic tattoos on the head could be a faster and more convenient way to monitor brain activity and diagnose neurological diseases such as seizures, epilepsy and brain tumors, as opposed to traditional electroencephalograms. Such tattoos are created by a specially programmed robot.
