Controlling a Wheelchair Indoors Using Thought

TLDR

Controlling machines with thought is transitioning from science fiction to reality. The study introduces the first brain‑controlled wheelchair prototype capable of navigating typical office or hospital settings. The wheelchair uses a P300 EEG interface and a motion‑guidance strategy that adapts to the interface’s low information rate, enabling safe, efficient navigation without complex sensors. Experiments show that healthy users can safely operate the wheelchair in an office‑like environment without training. The article appears in a special issue on Interacting with Autonomy.

Abstract

The idea of controlling objects or machines through thought is moving from science fiction to reality. This article presents the first working prototype of a brain-controlled wheelchair that can navigate in a typical office or hospital environment. The wheelchair is based on a slow but safe brain-controlled interface using the P300 signal detected from electroencephalography. The authors adapted the system's control strategy to the interface's measured performance. To circumvent the problem caused by the interface's low information rate, a motion guidance strategy provides safe, efficient control without complex sensors or sensor processing. Experiments demonstrated that healthy subjects can safely control the wheelchair in an office-like environment without training.This article is part of a special issue on Interacting with Autonomy.