Control of medical robotics and neurorobotic prosthetics by non invasive brain-robot interfaces via EEG and RFID technology

Abstract

Brain-robot interface (BRI) has been a growing field of innovative research and development in cognitive neuroscience and brain bioimaging processing technologies. In this paper we endeavor to explore how medical robotics and neurorobotic prosthetics can be controlled by Brain-Robot Interfaces and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies, directly using brain signals obtained non- invasively from the scalp through electroencephalography (EEG) in order to assist disabled patients to ameliorate their everyday lives.There is a general consensus that computational visualizations and interfaces are proliferating in every aspect of medical practice, prompted from the current trends in telemedicine. The main focus of the study is on architectures of Brain-robot interfaces for communication and control using one specific modality, namely electroencephalography (EEG), alpha (a) wave-based BRI with an emphasis on biosignal processing aspects.The main motivation for the application of such scientific methods is the development of an alternative communication and control means for severely disabled people, focusing in replacing total voluntary muscle control using robotic prosthetics. The substantial goal is to demonstrate that an EEG- based brain-robot interface can be used for sophisticated robotic interaction with the environment, involving not only navigation as in previous applications but also manipulation and transport of objects. Visualization of brain electrical activity and BRI technology, by their intimate connection with the wonder of human thought processes, are a fascinating research field, that has demonstrated the unprecedented ability of direct information transfer from the brain to medical robots or robotic prosthetics. Inclusion of a BRI in a multimodal interface thus results in a net gain of information transfer capability that alters the standards in medical robotics.