A brain computer interface for robust wheelchair control application based on pseudorandom code modulated Visual Evoked Potential

Abstract

In this pilot study, a novel and minimalistic Brain Computer Interface (BCI) based wheelchair control application was developed. The system was based on pseudorandom code modulated Visual Evoked Potentials (c-VEPs). The visual stimuli in the scheme were generated based on the Gold code, and the VEPs were recognized and classified using subject-specific algorithms. The system provided the ability of controlling a wheelchair model (LEGO(®) MINDSTORM(®) EV3 robot) in 4 different directions based on the elicited c-VEPs. Ten healthy subjects were evaluated in testing the system where an average accuracy of 97% was achieved. The promising results illustrate the potential of this approach when considering a real wheelchair application.