Chinese researchers developed first mind-controlled car

Chinese researchers from Nankai University, in the north-eastern port city of Tianjin, have developed the country's first ever mind-controlled car.

According to Reuters, the researchers spent two years to create the car, which can run through brain transmissions. The driver can control the car by wearing an equipment that can read brain signals.

Researcher Zhang Zhao said the equipment has 16 sensors that capture the Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from the user's brain. The team developed a software that can choose the relevant signals, translating them into orders that control the car.

"The tester's EEG signals are picked up by this (brain signal-reading) equipment and transmitted wirelessly to the computer. The computer processes the signals to categorize and recognize people's intention, then translates them into control command to the car. The core of the whole flow is to process the EEG signals, which is done on the computer," according to Zhang in a report by Econotimes.

India Today reported that project Head Associate Professor Duan Feng, from Nankai University's College of Computer and Control Engineering, said they made the mind-controlled car to better serve humans. He also said that this new technology could soon be integrated to driverless cars, like the Google Self Driving Car (SDC).

Professor Duan said there were no findings pointing to potential road accidents due to distractions, since concentration is only required when the car needs to move, like changing lanes. According to the team, they were inspired to develop the car to help people who physically can't steer vehicles.

The project has two major starting points. First is to provide a method for disabled to drive and second is to provide a more intellectualized way for people to drive. They have no plans to put this car into production yet. As of now, the team is collaborating with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motor.