Abstract

A Brain-computer Interface (BCI) can be utilised as the training device to improve the cognitive performance. Integrated with the industrial robot arms, the users are able to use it as a cognitive training device, and assist their daily lives for those who has movement difficulties. As a matter of fact, after the user’s training and skills reach the proficient level, it is possible for them to perform tasks in the daily working environment, e.g. assembly and transportation tasks.

The BCI-Robot project is established based on the communication between the users’ brainwaves and the industrial robot. The project starts by capturing EEG brainwaves and analyses the signals to identify both the users’ thoughts and emotional states. Then a set of training sessions is needed where a user is enquired to think about a set of defined commands for the robot, e.g. moving up, down, grasping, release, etc., and record the brain activities accordingly. The results of the training sessions are then utilised to translate the brain activities to a set of robot control commands. Eventually, the robot is controlled as the actuators by the users’ commands that are thinking in their minds. The project will be beneficial for both the user who has movement difficulties and the societies that are open for equal living and working environments.