An advanced step in innovative mobility (Asimo) is one of very few robots that can walk confidently on two legs. It has dual cams in its head and is powered by 34 individual motors.
Recently, researchers at the Honda Research Institute demonstrated the invention by using it to move the arms and legs of an Asimo robot. Honda hopes that by 2020 a robot will be on the market, affordable and capable enough to help with simple tasks. An elaborate bionic helmet would allow the wearer to control the robot through thought alone.
The person wearing the helmet only has to think about making the move. Its inventors hope that one day mind control technology will allow people to do things like turn on or off the air conditioning and open the trunk without shopping mode.
The helmet combines two different ways of gaining activity in the brain. Sensors in the helmet detect electrical signals through the scalp in the same way as a standard EEG. The scientists combined this with another technique called near-infrared spectroscopy, which can be used to monitor changes in blood flow in the brain.
The brain activity captured by the helmet is sent to a computer that uses software to determine what movement the person is thinking about. Then it sends a signal to the robot, instructing it to perform the movement. It usually takes a few seconds for a thought to turn into automated action. This is seen as a milestone in robotics
Recently, researchers at the Honda Research Institute demonstrated the invention by using it to move the arms and legs of an Asimo robot. Honda hopes that by 2020 a robot will be on the market, affordable and capable enough to help with simple tasks.