An asynchronous wheelchair control by hybrid EEG–EOG brain–computer interface

• Published in: Cognitive neurodynamics Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 399 - 409
• Main Authors: Wang, Hongtao, Li, Yuanqing, Long, Jinyi, Yu, Tianyou, Gu, Zhenghui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acceleration; Algorithms; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Artificial Intelligence; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blinking; Brain; Cognitive Psychology; Communication; Computer applications; Computer Science; Deceleration; Design; EEG; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; Event-related potentials; Human-computer interface; Imagery; Implants; Interfaces; Mental task performance; Navigation behavior; Navigation systems; Neurosciences; Research Article; Robotics; Robust control; Steering; Wheelchairs; P300 potentials; Asynchronous; Motor imagery; Hybrid brain–computer interface; Brain-controlled wheelchair; Eye blinking
• ISSN: 1871-4080; 1871-4099
• DOI: 10.1007/s11571-014-9296-y

Wheelchair control requires multiple degrees of freedom and fast intention detection, which makes electroencephalography (EEG)-based wheelchair control a big challenge. In our previous study, we have achieved direction (turning left and right) and speed (acceleration and deceleration) control of a wheelchair using a hybrid brain–computer interface (BCI) combining motor imagery and P300 potentials. In this paper, we proposed hybrid EEG-EOG BCI, which combines motor imagery, P300 potentials, and eye blinking to implement forward, backward, and stop control of a wheelchair. By performing relevant activities, users (e.g., those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and locked-in syndrome) can navigate the wheelchair with seven steering behaviors. Experimental results on four healthy subjects not only demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of our brain-controlled wheelchair system but also indicate that all the four subjects could control the wheelchair spontaneously and efficiently without any other assistance (e.g., an automatic navigation system).