Researcher on Brain-Controlled Robots to Speak at Colorado State University

A Swiss researcher, who is the first in the world to show that a person can drive a wheelchair just by changing their thoughts, will deliver a series of speeches Monday, Feb. 9, at Colorado State University.

Jose Del R. Millan of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne will speak on "Non-Invasive Brain-Controlled Robots" at 11 a.m. in Room 130 Computer Science Building. Millan will discuss how a brain-computer interface is a way to augment human capabilities by providing a new interaction link that would be particularly relevant to physically disabled or paralyzed individuals. Millan says his work has shown that brainwaves can be used to directly control robots.

"Recently we have shown for the first time that online analysis of a few electroencephalogram signals, if used in combination with advanced robotics and machine learning techniques, is sufficient for humans to continuously control a mobile robot and a wheelchair," Millan said.

Millan also will speak at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in Room 130 Computer Science Building on "A Look Behind Our Adaptive Brain Interface’s Veil". A third lecture, "Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences", will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Room W1 Anatomy/Zoology building.

The speeches are presented by Colorado State’s Information Science and Technology Center, or ISTeC. For more information, contact Computer Science Professor Chuck Anderson at (970) 491-7491 or anderson@cs.colostate.edu.

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