Mind-Controlled Drones

Abstract

This CURCA-sponsored research uses inexpensive, commodity EEG sensor headsets, off-the-shelf quadcopter Parrot AR 2.0 drones, and bluetooth plus wi-fi signals to enable a user to fly the drone using only trained thoughts. At under $1,000 for an individual EEG+drone system, with a regular laptop or mobile device as the only intermediary device, this research aims to program a seamless, intuitive controller system and train users to issue basic flight commands using only the EEG sensor inputs. This collaborative effort builds on research literature from much more expensive deployments and breaks the problem down into three domains: the EEG-to-mobile interface for receiving and interpreting EEG input on the laptop or mobile device, the mobile-to-drone controller for issuing flight commands and monitoring drone status, and the human-subject training necessary to equip an individual with reliable, repeatable, real-time control of the drone's flight using only the headset and app.