Scientists create 'mind-reading car'

Date: 24/2/2011

A group of German computer scientists have developed the technology to create a mind-reading car.

Researchers at the Freie Universitat Berlin have unveiled a vehicle that will make it possible to drive a car using thought control, which is hoped could lead to safer motoring.

The AutoNomos Brain Driver works by the motorist wearing a special headset - originally designed for video game players - which has sensors that use wireless technology to link the device to the vehicle, with the wearer able to control the car by simply thinking which way they want to turn.

Project Head Professor Raul Rojas told The Engineer: "Getting a car to stay on the road and interpret what other cars are doing is possible. But detecting pedestrians, knowing how they move and then knowing what they are thinking, is a problem."

While the system is still currently in the process of being tested, the final goal of the AutoNomos Brain Driver is to be able to control individual vehicles and traffic flow as a whole.

Posted by Mary Treen