April 7, 2011

BrainDriver allows you to drive with your mind

Imagine getting behind the wheel of your car, and no hands were required on the wheel.

This is the technology of BrainDriver which is under development at Freie Universität Berlin by professor Raul Rojas. BrainDriver uses a head cap with 16 sensors that allow the driver to have control over the wheel.

This is electroencephalography in action, and it is technology that is getting better every day. We have reported on computers that can do this, and all BrainDriver does is create a system for guiding the steering wheel. There’s a video after the jump so you can see how it works. You will note that they aren’t testing this on the real road with real traffic yet.

You’ll also notice that the driver seems quite young. The first thing I thought was “I am surprised he has his license”. Speaking of thoughts, I’m not certain whether or not thought driving is such a good idea. I mean, when I drive, I think an action and then I do it. This Braindriver had better be able to discern when I am thinking about making a turn and when I definitely want to make a turn.

However, if this young guy can figure it out, then I think I could probably figure it out. I guess it would be like having a limo with my brain as a driver. Perhaps this is just one stepping stone in our goal of completely autonomous vehicles.

26 comments:

  1. Can't wait to drive with my mind. Wonder whether it'll know if driver pisses me off and ram them.

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  2. Interesting stuff. I've had some hands on experience with neurofeedback technology and it can be pretty easy to learn, but it all requires delicate calibration and concentration. You definitely wouldn't be able to text and drive like this. I'd be interested to see where it goes though, I just doubt it will catch on for driving which seems like too delicate a task for this.

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  3. Cool, each day we are getting closer to the Minority report future

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  4. What would happen if a random thought about driving off a cliff came into your head?

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  5. I hope this turns common before I die.

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  6. Interesting. I want to know how you can multi-task with that thing. Listening to music, while eating a sandwich, while driving with your mind.

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  7. wow that is crazy... and yea agreed with Zombie lol

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  8. The real world is beginning to sound more and more like a sci fi movie. It's scary how fast technology is evolving.

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  9. I'd rather the car drove itself instead of me.

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  10. Amazing concept, but still a few years away from full implemention.

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  11. My god, I would not trust anyone yet alone myself to drive like that.

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  12. hmm not a lot of people would qualify lol

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  13. I wish i could drive with my mind... My blinker noise is stuck on in my car.. I think i am going crazy..

    Keep up the great work! and don't forget to come visit moby when you have time :D

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  14. lmfao omg this is the worst idea ever. are u aware of how many brain dead ppl are already on the road, let alone bad drivers, let alone women, let alone asians, heh k i think im done ranting.

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  15. I'd still prefer a robot driver if possible.

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  16. this is fucking awesome! im going to controll the world with my mind!

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  17. I too was concerned about it discerning between thinking what you're going to do and thinking what you want to do, but I'm sure they'll have worked that out!

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  18. That's really impressive.
    Surely it's not long before keyboards are obsolete.

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  19. holy shit. Star Trek type exploration is next I'm telling you! First it's magic cars like this, then the stars.

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  20. yeah......i would prefer a computer control our cars before this sort of technology was used. People are dumb, crazy and angry...if our minds controlled tons of steel(and whatever) at high speeds? Just imagine the Kaos

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  21. Cant wait till those cars are mainstream

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