- A new ‘brain-to-robot’ interface has been unveiled in China
- It uses non-invasive EEG technology
- The system will provide much-needed real-world AI training data
We’re seeing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) keep getting more advanced and more practical, and Chinese company BrainCo has now announced another first: a BCI that allows robots to be controlled by thoughts.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, BrainCo says the system works through EEG (electroencephalogram) headsets worn by human operators, which translate neural activity into instructions for robots to follow.
Like other similar ‘mind reading’ devices, it is based on vast amounts of training data that associates specific neuronal activity with specific commands as they are imagined in the brain. AI algorithms then do the job of finding the right action for the right thought.
Called the Brain-Controlled Robot AI Platform, it was unveiled at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai — the biggest and most important AI technology event on the calendar in China.
Think it out in reality
BrainCo says that in addition to being used to control robots, the system can also act as an interface to connect to robotic arms and other devices. A robot arm could, for example, be instructed to pick up a cup through thoughts alone.
As the brain-controlled robot AI platform becomes more widespread, it will also collect data – data that can then be used to further refine the underlying algorithms. High-quality training data is currently one of the biggest bottlenecks in the industry.
“The embedded AI industry has made remarkable progress in terms of what robots can do on their own,” said Nyx He, a partner and senior vice president at BrainCo. “We believe the next decisive frontier is about how robots understand the humans they work with.”
With AI models continuing to get smarter and more sophisticated, this will feed into the ‘physical AI’ of robotics – giving these machines greater flexibility, more dexterity and, as we’ve seen here, mind-controlled input.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds.
The best laptops for all budgets
