Wearable Augmented Reality and Brain Computer Interface to Improve Human-Robot Interactions in Smart Industry: A Feasibility Study for SSVEP Signals

Augmented Reality (AR) offers a new communication channel, capable of enhancing human-robot interactions. A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) can be particularly effective to interact with an AR headset, essentially working as a “thinking-mouse” and allowing hands-free control of the system, so that the operator can simultaneously carry out other tasks. In this paper, the feasibility of employing smart glasses driven by Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEP) non-invasive single-channel BCI is assessed in order to enhance the human-robot interaction in the Industry 4.0 framework. In particular, we demonstrate that smart glasses can generate a stimulus signal enough stable in frequency and bright to evoke SSVEP in the BCI user's brain. For the experimental AR case study of this work, the smart glasses Epson Moverio BT-200 were employed.