Brain waves lead way to safer driving

A driver wears equipment to control a car by her brain during an experiment last week at Nankai University in Tianjin. Chen Feng / For China Daily

Stepping on the gas and brake or holding the wheel to drive a car has become unnecessary in an ongoing project at Nankai University in Tianjin.

Researchers carried out an experiment last week, trying to control a car by the driver's brain alone.

Instead of the usual way of steering a car, the driver puts on equipment similar to headphones which collects brain signals from 16 points. It then is converted to orders and sent to the car.

Under the system, the car moved straight forward, backward, stopped, got locked and unlocked in the trial carried out on campus.

"Compared with brain control keyboards and brain control apparatus that already exist, the brain-controlled car requires faster and more accurate collection of brain signals," said Duan Feng, leader of the research team and associate professor of robotic engineering at Nankai University.

According to Duan, it took researchers two years to develop the system. But to see such an automobile on the market will take longer, Duan said.

The brain-control part of the project has been realized, but the car's electric system needs to be improved, Duan added.

Researchers believe that the technology has great potential in the future, because it not only better enables people with disabilities to drive, it also enhances the safety of driving by ordinary people.

"If you are drunk, tired or sick, the equipment can sense it and stop the car, ensuring safe driving," Duan said.