SVM-based Brain–Machine Interface for controlling a robot arm through four mental tasks

Human–Machine Interfaces can be very useful to improve the quality of life of physically impaired users. In this work, a non-invasive spontaneous Brain–Machine Interface (BMI) has been designed to control a robot arm through the mental activity of the users. This BMI uses the classification of four mental tasks in order to manage the movements of the robot. The high accuracy in the classification of these tasks (around 70%) allows a quick accomplishment of the experiment designed, even with the low signal-to-noise ratio of this kind of signals. The experiment consists of reaching four points in the workspace of an industrial robot in the established order. After a brief training, the volunteers are able to control the robot in a real time activity. The real time test shows that the system can be applied to do more complex activity such as pick and place tasks if a supplementary system is added. These interfaces are very adequate in the control of rehabilitation or assistance systems for people suffering from motor impairment.