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Chances are, you can. If automakers would have their way, then soon you might find yourself out of the use of hands and feet while driving. Chinese researchers have developed a car that can be controlled by your thoughts. Do we see it becoming a trend? Well, that’s for you to decide. How does the name –MINDDRIVER sound?
Autonomous driving cars are already giving car companies nightmares, as each of them are now in the race to outdo each other. Well, thank you Google! You just could not enjoy plain old hands and feet being used while driving.
So in the name of Science, technology and advancement we have another new phenomenon to wrap our heads around.
The research team from Nankai University, in the north-eastern Chinese port city of Tianjin, has spent two years in making the mind-controlled vehicle a reality. By wearing brain signal-reading equipment, a driver can control the car to go forward, backwards, come to a stop, and both lock and unlock the vehicle, all without moving their hands or feet.
Researcher Zhang Zhao told Reuters the equipment comprises 16 sensors that capture EEG (electroencephalogram) signals from the driver's brain. They developed a computer program that selects the relevant signals and translates them, enabling control of the car. Currently, the technology can drive a car forward, in reverse, brake, and lock or unlock doors without the need for any physical controls.
Sure enough, there was a purpose to this project. The researchers say it was originally developed for paralysed or elderly drivers who may not have full control of their physical faculties. Now, that is something which is the need of the hour. With many countries being user-friendly for the differently abled and senior citizens, a technology like this may make commuting easier for such people.
There will certainly be a lot of questions in your minds as to its feasibility. Controlling a vehicle on a busy traffic-filled road just with your mind sounds like a very dangerous idea but the researchers made it clear that wandering focus would not cause a car crash. You would only need to concentrate on the thought when you want to actually change the status of your vehicle - something you do unconsciously anyway.
According to the researchers, the ultimate plan could be to integrate this technology with driverless cars, so it is more of a complementary service than an alternative to physical driving.
Well, it’s too soon to be jumping to conclusions anyway, but here’s a fair warning, automakers like BMW have already begun such experiments and even managed to use the i3 electric car to do its bidding. So this might be a future much closer than we think.
Video Source: The Star Online
Source: Reuters
