Bio-Engineering
24 Apr 2008

Brain Machine Interfaces

Luca Rossini wears a 32 EEG during the ACT led Parabolic Flight experiment.
Luca Rossini wears a 32 EEG during the ACT led Parabolic Flight experiment.

Operating machines to perform complex tasks is a common approach in everyday's life. In zero gravity conditions usually even simple tasks can become quite difficult. A machine that reads astronauts' thoughts and puts them into practice would facilitates complex operations in space.

Motivation:

The space environment is inherently hostile and dangerous for astronauts. For this reason, extra-vehicular activity (EVA) should be limited and replaced by robotic systems as much as possible. In addition, it would be desirable to optimize the interface between astronauts and external semi-automatic manipulators and devices. Both the rather rigid space suit and the zero-g environment considerably limit the mobility of the astronaut and hence a reliable hand-free interface would augment both the astronaut's performance and safety.

Status:

Currently the application of BMIs are under consideration in diverse fields such as entertainment (computer games) and medicine (prosthetic devices). It is to be expected that BMI technology will experience great progress in the near future. As human physiology is greatly influenced during space travel our current aim is to examine the applicability of BMIs in micro gravity conditions.

In order to assess the effects of microgravity on current BMIs, two members of the ACT and two members of the EPFL institute on Brain Machine Interfaces (IDIAP) performed the first experiment in microgravity, on the Novespace A300-G aircraft. In 31 parabolas with 22 seconds of weighlessness each we examined how Brain Machine Interfaces work under these very particular conditions.

References:

  1. Summerer, L., Izzo, D., and Rossini, L., Chapter 16: Brain Machine Interfaces for Space Applications Research, Technological Development, and Opportunities, International Review of Neurobiology, Elsevier, pp.213-223, 2009. (link)
  2. Millan, J. d. R., Ferrez, P. W., and Seidl, T., Chapter 14: Validation of Brain-Machine Interfaces During Parabolic Flight , International Review of Neurobiology, Elsevier, pp.189-197, 2009. (link)
  3. Di Pino, G., Seidl, T., Benvenuto, A., Sergi, F., Campolo, D., Accoto, D., Rossini, P. M., and Guglielmelli, E., Chapter 3: Interfacing Insect Brain for Space Applications , International Review of Neurobiology, Elsevier, pp.39-47, 2009. (link)
  4. Tonet, O., Marinelli, M., Citi, L., Rossini, P.M., Rossini, L., Megali, G., and Dario, P., Defining brain-machine interface applications by matching interface performance with device requirements, Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 167(1), 2008. (link)
  5. Broschart, M., De Negueruela, C., Millan, J. d. R., and Menon, C., Augmenting Astronauts Capabilities through Brain-Machine Interfaces, Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Space Applications at 20th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI), Hyderabad, India, 2007. (link)
  6. Millan, J. d. R., Ferrez, P. W., and Buttfield, A., Non invasive brain-machine interfaces, European Space Agency, the Advanced Concepts Team, Ariadna Final Report (05-6402), 2006. (link)
  7. Tonet, O., Tecchio, F., Sepulveda, F., Citi, L., Rossini, P.M., Marinelli, M., Tombini, M., Laschi, C., and Dario, P., "Critical review and future perspectives of non-invasive brain-machine interfaces" , European Space Agency,the Advanced Concepts Team, Ariadna Final Report (05-6402), 2006. (link)
  8. Menon, C., De Negueruela, C., Millan, J. d. R., Tonet, O., Carpi, F., Broschart, M., Ferrez, P. W., Buttfield, A., Dario, P., Citi, L., Laschi, C., Tombini, M., Sepulveda, F., Poli, R., Palaniappan, R., Tecchio, F., Rossini, P.M., and De Rossi, D., Prospects of Brain-Machine Interfaces for Space System Control, 57th IAC Conference, Valencia, Spain, 2006. (link)
  9. Carpi, F. and De Rossi, D., "Non-invasive brain-machine interfaces", European Space Agency, the Advanced Concepts Team, Ariadna Final Report (05-6402), 2006. (link)

Outcome

Bio-Engineering Peer reviewed article
Prospects of brain machine interfaces for space system control
Menon, C. and De Negueruela, C. and Millan, J. d. R. and Tonet, O. and Carpi, F. and Broschart, M. and Ferrez, P. W. and Buttfield, A. and Tecchio, F. and Sepulveda, F. and Citi, L. and Laschi, C. and Tombini, M. and Dario, P. and Rossini, P.M. and De Rossi, D.
Acta Astronautica 64, no. 4: 448-456
(2008)
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BibTex
Bio-Engineering Book
Brain Machine Interfaces: Enhancing Astronauts Capabilities
Rossini, L. and Izzo, D. and Summerer, L.
International Review of Neurobiology, Elsevier
(2009)
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BibTex
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