Real-time control of an SSVEP-actuated remote-controlled car

In this study, an steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) - based brain computer interface (BCI) has been developed to wirelessly handle a remote-controlled car. Three flickers, flickering at distinct frequencies (13 Hz, 14 Hz, and 15 Hz), were displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor to induce user's SSVEPs, which were used control three movement functions (forward, leftward, rightward) of the remote-control car. Users gazed at one chosen flicker at one time to generate particular SSVEP, and the SSVEP was then recognized to activate a desired movement function of the remote-control car. With the provision of front scenes, captured from a CCD camera mounted on the remote-control car, subjects were able to generate desired SSVEPs to guide the remote-control car to a designated place. In this study, all participants were requested to guide the remote-control car to pass an S-shaped path. The EEG measurements utilized only one bipolar channel placed at Oz position (Oz(+)), with reference electrode at the right mastoid (Oz(-)). The acquired EEG signals were segmented into one-second epochs. Gazed-targets were then detected by a matched filter detector (MFD), which comprises a MF demodulator and an amplitude detector. The proposed system has been tested in two volunteers, and the mean accuracy and mean information transfer rate (ITR) were 92.69% and 49.79 bits/min, respectively.