Design of a Hands-Free Control System for Device Manipulation

Almost every device we interact with relies the use of a physical control interface in order for the user to command the system. This “one-size fits all approach” to control interfacing prevents the almost 3 million severely paralyzed persons from being able to operate even devices specifically created to help physically disabled persons. Robotic aids have been developed to move physical assets for severely physically disabled person, but a control interface which can support the needs of this population while providing the flexibility and accuracy necessary has not been created. Several alternative control systems have been developed, including eye tracking software, voice commands, predictive analytics and the beginnings of braincomputer interfacing. In order for a successful control interface to be created, a developer would need data and statistical analysis on the specific motions performed by each part of the robot, and the distribution of time necessary to complete a task. The project team has (will) created a simulation to demonstrate the movement of a virtual robot as it undertakes a specific task. The simulation provided a random start location, random object to pick up and set end location. The simulated robot will travel from the start location, to the location of the object, pick up the object and bring it to the end location. Index terms HMI, Human Machine Interaction, EEG, BCI