A Car You Control With Your Mind While Strengthening Your Brain

Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Alejo Bernal has designed a toy car that can be driven forward with thought.

Using EEG sensors built into his NeuroSky EEG headset, the designer is able to think about his vehicles movement and then make it operate.

The vehicle wasn’t actually made to be driven, instead Bernal was attempting to find a way to improve concentration skills, especially for people diagnosed with attention deficit disorders. As users focus on moving the car, the vehicle lights up to indicate neuronal activity and then it drives forward.

Bernal tells Dezeen:

“As you try to focus, the increased light intensity of the vehicle indicates the level of attention you have reached. Once the maximum level is achieved and retained for seven seconds, the vehicle starts moving forward. This project helps users to develop deeper, longer concentration by exercising the brain. It is possible for people to train or treat their minds through their own effort and not necessarily using strong medicines, such as ritalin.”

Unfortunately, we won’t see drivers flying down the road at the speed of thought anytime in the near future. The vehicle is currently only offered as a prototype model.

Neuro-based programs are becoming more commonplace as technology continues to improve. Video games can now be controlled with thought and some companies are even working on exo-skeleton based devices that could allow injury victims to walk again with only their mind to control their actions.

Scientists tend to agree that full neuro-based activity for technology is still years away, but with that being said, researchers are working on some very impressive and feasible pieces of technology at this time.

While Alejo Bernal continues to work on his mind-driven vehicle, the concept has actually been around for years. Here is another example from 2011:

I personally see too many distracted drivers on the road who would lose that train of thought. Perhaps this technology could be applied to autonomous vehicles for a second type of driving choice. Do you think mind-driven cars would be a good idea?