Extending the discrete selection capabilities of the P300 speller to goal-oriented robotic arm control

Abstract

A brain-computer interface (BCI), a system that translates a user's brain activity into device commands, can provide a non-muscular means for disabled individuals to interact with their environment. The P300 event-related potential, a transient brain response to a sensory stimulus, has been demonstrated to be a reliable brain signal for controlling a BCI. Traditionally, P300-based BCIs have been used for simple typing tasks using a P300 Speller application, which mimics the functionality of a computer keyboard. Here we extend the discrete selection capabilities of the P300 Speller to achieve high-level control of a 6 degree-of-freedom robotic arm. This study aims to determine if a user's performance, measured in accuracy and communication rate, is affected when a P300 Speller is used to control a robotic arm compared to simple typing. The results indicate that a user's performance is not significantly affected whether typing or controlling a robotic arm.