Shared control in brain computer interfaces

Patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) can have extremely restricted movement and independent transport functionality. Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) o er the potential to enable robotic wheelchair control through the monitoring and categorisation of brain activity signals. This enables users to control the wheelchair through the use of prede ned thought patterns. However, the process of continually executing commands can be tiring, and errors could have potentially dangerous consequences. Shared control interfaces aim to address these issues by inserting an intelligent com- puter interface between the user's brain activity signal commands and the output actuated by the wheelchair. The computer should be able to appraise both user commands and the surrounding environment to compute appropriate wheelchair behaviour. Information regarding the surrounding environment can be either collected from sensors attached to the chair, or be made available through stored map data. The Bioengineering Department at the University of Strathclyde has developed a virtual reality (VR) model of an electric wheelchair that can be used to navigate in a virtual environment. The VR wheelchair can be used as a platform to develop and test the wheelchair's performance. A shared control system has been developed which is able to perform several desirable functions, however can be augmented and improved upon through further research and development. This project involves reviewing the current system and upgrading or adding new func- tionality as required. In addition, both pre-existing and additional functionality has been documented and quantized. Furthermore, new maps have been developed to facilitate in the testing of the system. The major outcomes of this project include implementing signi cant improvements 2 and testing facilities into the shared control system, and providing documentation to allow continual development.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

msc

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters-pg

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Strathclyde

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Davie, Caroline

DOI

10.48730/mswt-at07

Identifier

T13243

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:strathclyde:ns064603t