ATR, Honda Co-develop New BMI, Using Brain Activity to Manipulate Robots

Tokyo, May 26, 2006 (JCN) - Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Honda Research Institute Japan (HRI) have co-developed an innovative brain machine interface (BMI), a basic technology for manipulating robots.

Unlike existing models, the new system manipulates robots by decoding the brain activities of human beings. This system, which requires no implantation of electrodes in the brain or special training, can control robots almost on a real time basis.

In the recent experiments, the two partners confirmed that the new system can recreate movements of a robot based on decoded brain signals with an accuracy of at least 85%.

Going forward, they plan to proceed with research with a view to improving and downsizing the system. This new BMI is based on a theory developed by Yukiyasu Kamitani at ATR, which was initially published under the title of "Decoding the Perceptual and Subjective Contents of the Human Brain" in the May 2005 issue of Nature Neuroscience.

By Aki Tsukioka, JCN Staff Writer