Robotics and the Brain-Computer InterfaceSystem: Critical Review for ManufacturingApplication

Abstract

Robots are employed in variety of applications and are available in a wide range of configurations. The need to respond to the environment without using the nervous system’s efferent pathways has initiated a new interaction system that can boost and speed up the human sensor-effector system. To maximize human and machine interaction, Human Threading TM technique has been developed to merge the observations made in human cognitive system, neuro-anatomical structures, finite state machines and their associated relationships. The Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is used to create a robust communication system that can interpret human intentions and cognitive emotions reflected by appropriate brain signals into control signals for robotic manipulations. Efficient brain- computer interfaces use efficient neural signal recording devices that are able to record neural signals continuous over long periods of time through Positron Emission Tomography (PET), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), functional Near-Infrared Imaging (fNIR), Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electrocorticographic (ECoG) methods. The paper presents critical review of the brain-computer interface system and robotics for manufacturing applications.