Appliance Control System Tele-operated by Brain Machine Interface

We present a novel system that allows patients who suffer from motor paralysis conditions to tele-operate electronic appliances using a non-invasive Brain-Machine Interface (BMI). The system architecture is based on a modular design that comprises of both hardware and software layers. The hardware layer is based on an open source architecture that consists of wireless control modules that control diverse electronic appliances in a real environment. The modularity of our system architecture allows the easy integration and configuration of new hardware appliances that could be controlled using the same BMI headset. In the software layer, a graphic user interface allows the user to navigate through hierarchical menus and select appliances using electromyogram (EMG) signals such as eye-blinking. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are then used to execute control commands that are sent to the physical appliance via wireless communication. Our current prototype explores the controllability of appliances such as room lights, television, fan, and a motor-powered bed.