The paralyzed man was able to control the drone with his mind alone: how the "unprecedented" technology works. Video
Thanks to the "unprecedented" technology, the paralyzed man was able to control the virtual quadcopter with his mind alone. The drone moved with incredible precision.
A brain-computer interface surgically implanted in a study participant with tetraplegia and paralysis of all four limbs provided an unprecedented level of control over the virtual quadcopter. The man controlled the device simply by thinking about moving it with his fingers, which do not actually respond, TechnologyNetworks writes.
According to scientists, the latest technology divides the hand into three parts: the thumb and two pairs of fingers (index and middle, ring and small). Each part can move both vertically and horizontally.
To control the power of thought, electrodes are placed in the patient's motor cortex.
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When the participant thinks about moving three groups, sometimes simultaneously, the virtual quadcopter responds by maneuvering through a virtual obstacle course, the experts describe.
Scientists emphasize that this is a great opportunity for people with paralysis to enjoy games with friends, and this technology also demonstrates the potential for remote work.
"It's a greater degree of functionality than anything that's ever been based on finger movements before," said Matthew Wilsey, associate professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at the university.
Scientists believe that to restore highly functional control of fine motor skills, electrodes need to be placed closer to neurons. The new study notes a six-fold improvement in quadcopter flight performance by reading signals directly from the user's motor neurons.
To prepare the interface, patients undergo a surgical procedure during which electrodes are placed in the motor cortex of the brain. The electrodes are connected to a stand that is attached to the skull and extends out of the skin, allowing for connection to a computer, experts say.
"The device uses the signals created in the motor cortex, which occur simply when the participant tries to move their fingers, and uses an artificial neural network. We then send a signal to control the virtual quadcopter," Wilsey explained.
"The quadcopter simulation was not an arbitrary choice; the participant had a passion for flying and wanted to fly," said study co-author and Stanford University computer scientist Donald Avanzino.
Professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University, another co-author of the study, Jamie Henderson, stressed that a paralyzed person who can connect to a computer and control a virtual vehicle by simply thinking, may eventually be capable of much more, such as creating music.
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