back to article Mind control hat makes quadcopter do what brain says

In a development with potentially huge consequences in the field of care for the disabled (also the related fields of disembodied brains in bubbling jars, cyborgs, human-machine interfaces etc) a group of students have shown that they can accurately control a small drone helicopter using only a specialised …

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  1. Mike Brown

    awesome

    and no thinking in russian involved? hurrah!!

    1. Robert A. Rosenberg
      Happy

      Re: awesome

      I see you remember Clint Eastwood in Firefox (or Joe90 in the Joe90 Pilot Episode) <g>.

    2. StampsJr

      Re: awesome

      Seriously, the Russians have already done this.

  2. Mykilr

    I wonder if the emotiv (http://www.emotiv.com/) headsets would be capable of this kind of level of control.

  3. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Clever - can be interpreted in multiple ways

      Exactly. I believe it's named after a Mr Hugh Phamism. (Viz Magazine - "He's always calling a spade a you-know-what")

      A bit like the 1970's and Mrs Slocombe going on about her pussy.

      1. Martin Budden Silver badge
        WTF?

        Re: Clever - can be interpreted in multiple ways

        If you're going to invoke Viz please try to use the correct character: Finbar Saunders.

  4. wolfetone Silver badge
    Coat

    Can't imagine this being any use to UKIP voters really, as they're incapable of any thoughts.

    1. Elmer Phud

      Yeah but, y'know, like, mind control.

      Already on the way -- if you say the word 'benefit' -- knees start jerking

      1. wolfetone Silver badge

        I've noticed this, followed by an uncontrolled verbal outburst along the lines of "rabble rabble EU rabble immigrants rabble". Poor people, I feel sorry for them not to be able to control their own thoughts and opinions.

        1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Brian Mankin

      Ad hominem much?

  5. Anonymous Custard
    Joke

    MIND CONTROL HAT makes CHOPPER do what BRAIN says

    Makes a change from hats preventing choppers using mind control I guess...

    1. IglooDude
      Facepalm

      Re: MIND CONTROL HAT makes CHOPPER do what BRAIN says

      Beat me to the related "In Soviet Russia, your thoughts control the black helicopters!"

      Cadence sucks, bad internet meme, I deserve the downvotes anyway. *sob*

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Happy

    Well done

    Well done guys and gals. This has huge potential for people with disabilities :)

  7. wowfood

    Brain controlled Arms, brain controlled Helicopters, what next? Brain controlled lawyers.

    1. Mostly_Harmless Silver badge
      Coat

      I'll drink to that

      Is "Brain Controlled Arms" the name of a pub for neuroscientists?

  8. jungle_jim

    Neurohelmet

    I want my battlemech

    1. Don Jefe
      Happy

      Re: Neurohelmet

      I'd just like my mower to do that. My yard isn't suitable for a robot mower but if I had some control & could keep my hands free for my beer and cigarette it would be grand!

      1. Elmer Phud

        Re: Neurohelmet

        There would need to be safety warnings -- no trying to mow the lawn and look at French postcards at the same time.

  9. knarf

    My Chopper changes people minds

    Only costs £15 and if you fly it towards someone they jump out the way, world first chopper controlled mind craft.

  10. sorry, what?
    Joke

    Let's add NFC to the hat and...

    Allow people to steal your thoughts as well as your credit card details.

  11. A K Stiles
    Pint

    And as for the rest of it?

    Nice idea, but having had recent experience of an EEG 'hat' (I'm not crazy, I've been tested!), there's a load of calibration work to fit it, not to mention quantities of electro-conductive gel to be applied to your head through each sensor, and try not to clench your jaw or move your eyes too much 'cos the electrical signals from the muscles will generate some serious interference - hence the fact that the guy in the video has a bit of a dopey look due to trying to keep his head and neck relaxed whilst imagining clenching his hands.

    If you can get round a lot of the messy application, recalibration and dopey relaxation issues by inserting a sensor once with a simple* procedure then that actually has some appeal for real-world applications.

    *I am (clearly) not a nerosurgeon, so for a given value of 'simple'.

    Beer, 'cos it helps with the relaxation!

    1. frank ly

      Re: And as for the rest of it?

      Given that remote flying of a helicopter will probably lead to some buttock clenching moments; perhaps there is a clue there for the simple insertion of some kind of sensor, at least to detect 'danger! danger!' and take appropriate action.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: And as for the rest of it?

      Interference can be filtered, conductive gel can be replaced by using sharp needles the burrow into your scull...

      1. Danny 14

        Re: And as for the rest of it?

        plus if it gave you electric shock feedback im sure you would learn to keep still very quickly.

  12. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Quadrotor copter choice

    Because when commanded it does move in the dimensions easily.

    Imagine the frustration if it had been an RC car and you the investigator had you do a three-point turn.

    1. MrXavia
      Thumb Up

      Re: Quadrotor copter choice

      And those AR drones are pretty easy to link with, no need to build a robot AND design the neural interface!

  13. Vision Aforethought
    Happy

    It's probably been said, but...

    ...I've been able to control my chopper with my mind for quite a while now. Comes naturally.

  14. Morrie Wyatt
    Black Helicopters

    Someone really should let Steven Hawking have a go with this!

    It would provide a huge profile boost to the project if the good professor could be seen with an ear to ear grin while piloting this thing, making it do what his muscles can no longer do.

    1. Martin Budden Silver badge
      Meh

      Nice idea, but unfortunately he can't grin any more; his nerve condition is getting even worse.

      Icon shows no emotion, even though I feel sad.

  15. Dozer
    Childcatcher

    Hat

    That hat looks pants - I will take the surgically implanted option thanks…

    <- Hat

    1. Martin Budden Silver badge
      Holmes

      Re: Hat

      That's some bad hat, Harry.

  16. Intractable Potsherd
    Happy

    Nerd couture of the future

    Google glass and a neuro-hat - stylish or what?

  17. Richard 120

    Stephen Hawking

    Could become Davros?

  18. The last doughnut

    I demand a glistening green and purple brain icon

    Obviously there is a large shield between the brain and the sensors - we need to get rid of that first. Once the brain is exposed we can float some dry ice around there with some green and purple lighting should look good.

    Presumably they couldn't get research funding unless they used WiFi in the title.

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Joke

    and I thought

    most blokes brains were controlled by their choppers .......

  20. StampsJr

    I saw something like this on Russia Today's youtube channel a few years back. The reporter controlled an RC car. It took about 20 minutes for him to get the hang of it. This REALLY needs to be applied to wheelchairs and such.

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