Mobile robot navigation through a brain computer interface

Abstract

A brain computer interface (BCI) has been developed to navigate a robot by way of the operator's brain activities. The navigation commands were displayed on a computer screen to interact with the operator. While the operator was giving the navigation command by “thinking”, his/her EEG signals were acquired by a data acquisition system through the EEG leads. The EEG signals were analyzed to identify the P300 response of the operator, and thus determine the operator's navigation command. This command was then transmitted through a local area network to guide the robot. Feasibility of this robot navigation scheme was successfully tested with a virtual robot on a computer. The entire concept will be implemented and tested in hardware in the near future.