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Toyota Rolls Out Mind-Controlled Wheelchair

Chair can translate thoughts into commands within milliseconds

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 3:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Toyota has unveiled research on a mind-controlled wheelchair that can read its user's thoughts much faster and more accurately than any previous efforts, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The chair's interface reads brainwave activity and responds to imagined hand and foot movements within 125 milliseconds with up to 95% accuracy, according to Toyota. Earlier attempts experienced lags of several seconds.

The chair's system includes a neuro-feeback loop that can tailor its responses to a user's tendencies after training. The chair includes a safety feature allowing users to bring it to an instant stop by puffing out one cheek. Toyota plans to market the chair commercially, although the company says extensive research and development remains to be done.

[Images (3)]

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A researcher wearing a cap that can read brain signals, operates a wheelchair that can be steered by detecting the user's brain waves. (AP Photo/Riken)

A researcher shows a cap that can read brain signals as he demonstrates a wheelchair that can be steered by detecting the user's brain waves. (AP Photo/Riken)

A researcher wearing a cap that can read brain signals rides on a wheelchair that can be steered by detecting brain waves at Japan's Riken Brain Science Institute. (AP Photo/Riken)

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A look a the brain-controlled wheelchair under development at Toyota. (networkworld)

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Toyota Rolls Out Mind-Controlled Wheelchair