Med-tech engineers have developed a new device that allows paralyzed individuals power a robot remotely, using only their thoughts.

The breakthrough, created by a team of researchers at the Defitech Foundation Chair in Brain-Machine Interface (CNBI), could one day allow disabled individuals to live more independently by employing such a robot to help with daily chores and needs.

Lead researcher José del R. Millán, has however been working on a revolutionary brain-machine approach in order to restore a sense of independence to the disabled. The idea is to remotely control a robot from home with one's thoughts.

Research involving the new technology — published in the Proceedings of the IEEE, a journal dedicated to brain-machine developments — involved nine disabled people and ten healthy individuals who tested the device in several countries.

For several weeks, each of the test subjects wore an electrode-studded hat capable of analyzing their brain signals. They then instructed the robot to move, transmitting their instructions in real time via internet from their home country.

"Each of the nine subjects with disabilities managed to remotely control the robot with ease after less than 10 days of training," said Millán, noting the healthy individuals were also able to maneuver the device.