Quadcopters have become very popular over the last few years, to the point where not only have they become affordable, but a great device for testing out new tech and control solutions. There’s no better example of this than the autonomous quadcopters that know how to juggle.
Now, the University of Minnesota working with the National Science Foundation has decided to use quadcopters to help perfect a thought-controlled system. That’s right, a research team has managed to create a system where you control the movement of a quadcopter just by thinking about where you want it to go. Better yet, it’s wireless.
The thought-pilot wears an EEG cap covered in 63 electrodes and contains two different types of conductive gel. That combination helps the cap clearly read the wearer’s thoughts without needing some kind of invasive connection. The pilot also needs to undergo up to 20 hours of training on a computer simulator before being able to control a real quadcopter.
The point of the research is to create a useful interface for people who suffer with disabilities that limit movement or paralysis. When combined with the correct equipment it could allow them to carry out everyday activities that would otherwise be impossible without the aid of a caregiver.
However, depending on how inexpensive the mind-controlled system turns out to be, it could easily turn into a consumer product. Who wouldn’t want to control a quadcopter with thought just by wearing a cap?