Thought-Controlled Robot Gives Disabled Humans a New Way to View the World (VIDEO)

Imagine a robot that can be controlled with only your thoughts. Scientists have created a telepresence robot that can be controlled by a human brain.

Researchers have long sought to help those suffering from paralysis or limited mobility. This new robot could potentially help with that. In this latest study, nine disabled people and ten healthy people took part in piloting a robot with only their thoughts.

For several weeks, each of the volunteers put on an electrode-studded hat capable of analyzing their brain signals. Then, the participants instructed the robot to move, transmitting their instructions via the internet from their homes from miles away.

The person at the controls could actually interact with whoever the robot crossed paths with. In addition, each of the volunteers who were disabled were able to remotely control the robot after less than 10 days of training.

The brain-machine interface is extremely useful for those with disabilities. Not only that, but it allows the robot to avoid obstacles by itself, which can help a pilot from becoming overly tired.

The new robot could be huge for those who are disabled and can't visit others. Instead, this robot could act in their stead and allow them to control it.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the IEEE.

Want to see the robot for yourself? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.

Related Stories

Cockroach Robot Scurries and Moves Through Obstacles and Tight Spaces (VIDEO)

Robots Recover from Damage in Minutes by Adapting and 'Healing' Body Parts

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).