Feasibility study of using brainwave headset to control a 3D-printed robotic hand

Abstract

According to Hong Kong government report, over 3 hundred thousands people are physical disabilities. There are not enough resources and cares from the society for them. Although their brain is functioning properly, the physical defects still affect their daily life. In order to solve this problem, especially hand disability, the brainwave controlling system is introduced to assist them in living as normal as a healthy person. The project divided into four parts to develop brainwave-sensing system to control the hand. First, it is to study the mechanism of 3D printer and print the human-liked robotic arm. Second, it is to develop the control system for the robotic hand through a microprocessor, PSoC 4. Third, it is to implement the sensing system to extract the signal from the brainwave headset, Neurosky Mindwave mobile. Fourth, it is to research and analysis of the electroencephalogram, EEG, signal and output a suitable action to the hand by Java program. Through one-year research and implementation, it is successfully to control the hand through the headset. The hand is connected to the computer by the UART on the microprocessor. Besides, the headset analyses the EEG signal by a Java program. Ultimately, the brainwave head senses EEG signal and output to the Java program for the data analysis. Then, the Java program determines action to the robotic hand through Psoc4.