Researchers at the CNRS-AIST Joint Robotics Laboratory (a collaboration between France’s Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are developing software that allows a person to drive a robot with thoughts alone, reports Gizmag.

The researchers have achieved what they call “robotic re-embodiment”, which they accomplished by using an EEG controlled interface (an electrode cap) and then mapping and translating brain signals into commands the robot could understand.

This marks the first time an actual robot has been controlled in such a manner.

While it’s primarily intended for severely paralyzed people, there’s no doubt that this technology will eventually be used by pretty much everyone—whether it be to travel remotely to faraway or inaccessible places, or just to have it clean out your garage.

The system also utilizes artificial intelligence(AI) so that it not only understands the user’s intentions, but also infers the particulars of the task at hand. As a result, the robot won’t have to be micromanaged when performing simple tasks like walking to the end of a hall, or picking up a dropped object.

Essentially, once the user focuses on a target, the robot’s AI takes over and knows what to do with it.

The Japan Daily Press reports that the basic way the system works is that a person stares intently at a computer screen with flashing arrows. The processor then recognizes which of the arrows is being stared at and then sends a command to the robot, causing it to react with a pre-programmed movement (e.g. moving to the left if the left arrow is stared at).

The robots can also be instructed to do basic movements based on the user looking at pre-determined objects, like staring at an object instructs the robot to pick up it up and bring it to you.

See related article: Mind-controlled bionic limbs bring giant strides in prosthetics

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