BRAIN WAVE CONTROLLED WHEEL

CHAIR
A Term-Paper Report
submitted by
K.SIVAKUMAR -128W1A04D9
V.SAI SOWMYA-128W1A04H6
M.V.LAKSHMI-138W1AO429
B.SHALINI-128W1A04C6
M.CHAKRAVARTHY-128W1AO4F0
Under the Guidance of
SK.FAYAZ AHMED, Asst.prof
In partial fulfilment of the requirements
For award of degree of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
In
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING,
VELAGAPUDI RAMAKRISHNA SIDDARTHA ENGINEERING
COLLEGE,
VIJAYAWADA -520007

Department of Electronics and

Communication Engineering

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the term paper titled BRAIN WAVE
CONTROLLED WHEEL CHAIR was prepared and presented
by
K.SIVAKUMAR(128W1AO4D9)
,
V.SAI
SOWMYA(128W1A04H6),M.V.LAKSHMI(138W1A0429),B.S
HALINI(128W1AO4C6),M.CHAKRAVARTHY(128W1A04F0)
of III B.Tech ,VI semester ,in partial fulfilment of requirements
for award of Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Electronics
and
Communication
Engineering
under
VELAGAPUDI
RAMAKRISHNA SIDDHARTHA ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
KANURU during the academic year 2014-15.

GUIDE
COORDINATOR

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We take this opportunity to convey our gratitude to all those who have been kind enough to
offer their advice and provide assistance when needed which has led to the successful
completion of the term paper .
We extend our sincere thanks to my guide Mr.SK.Fayaz Ahamed, Assistant Professor,
Department of ECE, for his constant guidance and support.
We are grateful to Dr. K. Sri Rama Krishna, HOD , Department of ECE, for his extraneous
support in providing requirements and his valuable suggestions through out this paper.
We are grateful to our B.Tech Program Coordinator Dr.A.Padmaja, professor, Department
Of ECE , for providing her support and pleasant environment in which the paper has been
worked out.
We sincerely thank our principal Dr. A.V.Ratna Prasad garu for his encouragement during
the course of Term Paper
We are also thankful to all the faculty members of Department of ECE with whose timely
help for the completion of our paper work has become possible.
We thank one and all who have rendered help to us directly or indirectly in the completion of
work.

K.SIVAKUMAR -128W1A04D9
V.SAI SOWMYA-128W1A04H6
M.V.LAKSHMI-138W1AO429
B.SHALINI-128W1A04C6
1

M.CHAKRAVARTHY-128W1A04F0

INDEX
CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION

PAGENO

LIST OF FIGURES

ABSTRACT
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Brainwaves
1.2 Methods for the detection of brain waves

CHAPTER 2

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
2.1 Wheel chair- motors used
2.2 EEG Headset
2.3 Arduino interface circuit

CHAPTER 3

CODE IMPLEMENTATION
3.1 Introduction
3.2 WINAVR
3.3 Procedure
3.4 Code

CHAPTER 4

BCI Past, Present & Future

Applications
Conclusion
References

BRAINWAVE CONTROLLED WHEELCHAIR

Abstract:
One of our biggest fears is being trapped in small, enclosed spaces. Now imagine
being trapped inside of your own body. This fully paralyzing condition may not be common,
but partial paralysis is a very real problem. However, the advancements in neuro technology
in the area of brain-computer interfaces may finally allow patients suffering from some form
of paralysis to live more independent lives.
A brain-computer interface (BCI) allows the brain to communicate with an external
device. It converts the users thoughts into actions executed by a computer. The brain emits
specific signals associated with the intent which in this case involves this electrical activity is
measured in voltage differences using an Electroencephalogram, or EEG technology. EEG
technology is a way to measure the brains electrical activity. Thought-controlled wheelchairs
are still in the research and development phase. Once the thought-controlled wheelchair
moves past the R&D phase, it is expected to be useful in the rehabilitation and support of
paralyzed individuals. Brain-computer interfaces such as the wheelchair will allow people to
interact and communicate more with their surroundings without having to rely entirely on
others.

Keywords : Brain-computer interface (BCI), Electroencephalogram (EEG)

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
BRAIN WAVES:
Our brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which use electricity to
communicate with each other. The combination of millions of neurons sending signals at
once produces an enormous amount of electrical activity in the brain, which can be detected
using sensitive medical equipment (such as an EEG), measuring electricity levels over areas
of the scalp.
The combination of electrical activity of the brain is commonly called a brainwave pattern,
because of its cyclic, "wave-like" nature.
Below is one of the first recordings of brain activity

Fig:1.1 Brain wave recordings

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BRAIN WAVES:
Brainwave speed is measured in Hertz (cycles per second) and they are divided into bands
deliniating slow, moderate, and fast waves.
DELTA WAVES (.5 TO 3 HZ)
Delta brainwaves are the slowest but loudest brainwaves (low frequency and deeply
penetrating, like a drum beat). They are generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep.
Delta waves suspend external awareness and are the source of empathy. Healing and
regeneration are stimulated in this state, and that is why deep restorative sleep is so essential
to the healing process.

THETA WAVES (3 TO 8 HZ)

Theta brainwaves occur most often in sleep but are also dominant in the deep meditation. It
acts as our gateway to learning and memory. In theta, our senses are withdrawn from the
external world and focused on signals originating from within. It is that twilight state which
we normally only experience fleetingly as we wake or drift off to sleep. In theta we are in a
dream; vivid imagery, intuition and information beyond our normal conscious awareness. Its
where we hold our stuff, our fears, troubled history, and nightmares.
ALPHA WAVES (8 TO 12 HZ)
Alpha brainwaves are present during quietly flowing thoughts, but not quite meditation.
Alpha is the power of now, being here, in the present. Alpha is the resting state for the
brain. Alpha waves aid overall mental coordination, calmness, alertness, mind/body
integration and learning.
BETA WAVES (12 TO 38 HZ)
Beta brainwaves dominate our normal waking state of consciousness when attention is
directed towards cognitive tasks and the outside world. Beta is a fast activity, present when
we are alert, attentive, engaged in problem solving, judgment, decision making, and engaged
in focused mental activity. Beta brainwaves are further divided into three bands; Low Beta
(Beta1, 12-15Hz) can be thought of as a 'fast idle, or musing. Beta (aka. Beta2, 15-22Hz) as
high engagement. Hi-Beta (Beta3, 22-38Hz) is highly complex thought, integrating new
experiences, high anxiety, or excitement. Continual high frequency processing is not a very
efficient way to run the brain, as it takes a tremendous amount of energy.
GAMMA WAVES (38 TO 42HZ):
Gamma brainwaves are the fastest of brain waves (high frequency, like a flute), and relate to
simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas. It passes information
rapidly, and as the most subtle of the brainwave frequencies, the mind has to be quiet to
access it. Gamma was traditionally dismissed as 'spare brain noise' until researchers
discovered it was highly active when in states of universal love, altruism, and the higher
virtues. Gamma rhythms modulate perception and consciousness, disappearing under
anaesthesia. Gamma is also above the frequency of neuronal firing, so how it is generated
remains a mystery. The presence of Gamma relates to expanded consciousness and spiritual
emergence.
1

Fig:1.2 Different types of brain waves

ELECTRONENCEPHALOGRAPHY (EEG) :
EEG, or electroencephalogram, is a tool we use to image the brain while it is performing a
cognitive task. This allows us to detect the location and magnitude of brain activity involved
in the various types of cognitive functions we study. EEG allows us to view and record the
changes in your brain activity during the time you are performing the task.
Basic Acquisition
EEG signals are a measure the potential difference between two electrodes.

Just like the voltage at a battery is the difference between positive and negative poles.

Thus you always need at least 2 recording electrodes to get a signal.

In practice we use many electrodes but each EEG signal is always the difference
between the signal from 2 or more electrodes.
BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE (BCI) :
Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a collaboration between a brain and a device that enables
signals from the brain to direct some external activity. By reading signals from an array of
neurons and using computer chips and programs to translate the signals into action, BCI can
enable a person suffering from paralysis to write a book or control a motorized wheelchair or
prosthetic limb through thought alone. Current brain-interface devices require deliberate
conscious thought; some future applications, such as prosthetic control, are likely to work
effortlessly.
States of consciousness: a symphony of different brainwaves:

The different states of consciousness can be described as combinations of beta, alpha, theta
and delta brainwaves. (There is still research being done on gamma brainwaves and their
significance). Most of the time we see not only one category of brainwaves but rather a
combination of brainwaves interacting in concert.
"Normal" waking state :
Beta brainwaves alone or in combination with delta (hour glass pattern).
This "splayed" beta is another form of beta than the low frequency beta of the awakened
mind.

Meditation:
Alpha and theta in combination, delta may also be present. Both alpha and theta are
necessary here: without alpha we would not be conscious during the meditation or remember
its content, if theta is lacking we experience a lively and colourful imagination but without
the depth, profundity or insight of theta.

Attention:
You will produce an attention mind pattern first if you add low frequency beta to the
meditation pattern. You will then be able to tap into the intuition of delta, the creative
inspiration, personal insight or spiritual consciousness of theta, the relaxed, detached imagery
of alpha and the conscious processing of thoughts in beta, and all of this simultaneously!!

Risks & Benefits :

EEGs are non-invasive and do not involve any X-rays, radiation, or injections. EEGs have
been used for many years and are considered very safe. The electrodes record activity without
producing any sensation. Slight redness may occur in the locations where the electrodes were
placed, but this will wear off after a few hours. However, there may be risks depending on
your specific medical condition, so we will screen for disorders such as epilepsy.

CHAPTER 2

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
WHEEL CHAIR:
Most electric wheelchairs have motors that are usually 12 or 24 volts and are rated about 300
watts. They should have a reduction gearbox built into it.

Fig:2.1 Assembling
of wheel chair
The wheelchair will
of batteries the size
the same voltage. the
connected in series,
two 12-volt batteries
volt battery to the
must be a 24-volt charger, or a 28-volt regulated power supply.

most likely use a pair

of car batteries, and
batteries
are
which means that the
appear as a single 24chair. The charger

Some wheelchairs include reclining motors and other adjustments. These systems usually
have tilt sensors and other safety sensors which keep the chair from moving when it's
not safe.

Chairs usually have a "clutch" which can disengage the wheels from the motors. Sometimes
this is a lever, and sometimes it's a lockable hub in the middle of the wheel. There should be
a sticker explaining clearly how to engage or disengage it. If the clutch is released, the
motors will not cause the chair to move, and they may not even turn if the wheelchair "brain"
knows that they are disengaged.
Our chair had two switches; one selects between OFF and LOW and HIGH speed, the other
between DRIVE "A" and DRIVE "B" which are slow and fast. It is necessary to know how
to turn the chair OFF if it gets out of control. It is useful to set the chair to its lowest speed
when experimenting with computer control.
1

EEG HEADSET:
Presently, there are many EEG headsets available in the market for various applications of
brainwaves. NEUROSKY MINDWAVE is one of the EEG headsets which has 2 contact
electrodes and a Bluetooth module to be paired up with the device to be monitored.
NeuroSky's Dry Sensor Technology is capable of detecting several different kinds of
biosignals depending on where the sensor electrode is placed, including EEG, EOG, EMG,
and ECG. On the forehead, EEG signals from the brain and EMG signals from eyeblinks and
forehead muscles can be detected.
The TGAM sensor is optimized for EEG detection, which is in the uV to mV range. EMG,
however, is typically in the mV range. The contact electrodes themselves are just pieces of
conductive metal. Stainless steel is typically used as the contact material, but they can be
replaced with gold, silver or other hypo-allergenic metal with good conductivity.

Fig:2.2 NeuroSky Dry sensor

ARDUINO INTERFACE CIRCUIT:

ATMEGA8 MICROCONTROLLER:

Fig:2.3 Pin diagram of ATMEGA8 microcontroller

Memory: It has 8 Kb of Flash program memory (10,000 Write/Erase cycles

durability), 512 Bytes of EEPROM (100,000 Write/Erase Cycles). 1Kbyte Internal SRAM

I/O Ports: 23 I/O line can be obtained from three ports; namely Port B, Port C and Port D.
1

Interrupts: Two External Interrupt source, located at port D. 19 different interrupt vectors
supporting 19 events generated by internal peripherals.

Timer/Counter: Three Internal Timers are available, two 8 bit, one 16 bit, offering
various operating modes and supporting internal or external clocking.

SPI (Serial Peripheral interface): ATmega8 holds three communication devices

integrated. One of them is Serial Peripheral Interface. Four pins are assigned to Atmega8 to
implement this scheme of communication.

USART: One of the most powerful communication solutions is USART and ATmega8
supports both synchronous and asynchronous data transfer schemes. It has three pins assigned
for that. In many projects, this module is extensively used for PC-Micro controller
communication.

TWI (Two Wire Interface): Another communication device that is present in ATmega8
is Two Wire Interface. It allows designers to set up a commutation between two devices using
just two wires along with a common ground connection, As the TWI output is made by
means of open collector outputs, thus external pull up resistors are required to make the
circuit.

Analog Comparator: A comparator module is integrated in the IC that provides

comparison facility between two voltages connected to the two inputs of the Analog
comparator via External pins attached to the micro controller.

Analog to Digital Converter: Inbuilt analog to digital converter can convert an analog
input signal into digital data of 10bit resolution. For most of the low end application, this
much resolution is enough.

CHAPTER 3

CODE IMPLEMENTATION
The code for the movement of the wheel chair has been implemented first on a small 9v
motor driven micro controlled device which can be implemented same for heavy load
machines with minor changes in the program. The code has been implemented using
WINAVR .

WINAVR :
WINAVR (tm) is a suite of executable, open source software development tools for the Atmel
AVR series of RISC microprocessors hosted on the Windows platform. Includes the GNU
GCC compiler for C and C++.

ADVANTAGES OF WINAVR:
For instance WINAVR comes with Programmers Notepad GUI by default. It is very powerful
editor, but there are lots of manual routines required to start compiling project like setting
up make file, creating file dependencies, etc.
Programmers Notepad:
Programers notepad (PN) is an Open Source editor with some IDE features
PN can call any command-line tool and capture it's output. This is ideal for calling the make
utility, which executes your make file, which in turn calls the compiler, linker, and other
utilities used to build your software. PN will then capture the output and display it in a
window. You can also click on any GCC warning or error and PN will automatically open the
file and go to the line where the warning or error occurred.
1

PROCEDURE:
First of all we need to write the program in the Programmers notepad feature of the
WINAVR.
After the code is written GOTO-> Tools MAKE ALL
Errors will be displayed if any.
Correct the errors in the code and again MAKE ALL
After successful compiling of program connect the system to the microcontroller using USB
Now go to tools Program
The program will be dumped into the microcontroller and it can be implemented in it.

CODE:
#include "uart.h"
void main()
{
DDRD=0XFF;
uartinit();
unsigned char x;
while(1)
{
x=dispdata();
if(x=='a')
PORTD=0X90;
if(x=='b')
PORTD=0X60;
if(x=='r')
PORTD=0X50;
if(x=='l')
PORTD=0Xa0;
}
1

CHAPTER 4

BCI- Past, Present & Future

Utilizing the lucky fact that electrical signals are the language of the brain we end up with
two flavors of BCI: recording (for the brain-to-computer direction), and stimulating (for the
computer-to-brain path).

APPLICATIONS:
1

1929: First Paper on EEG

Hans Berger (21 May 1873 1 June 1941) was a German neurologist, best known as the
inventor of electronencephalography. In 1924, Berger succeeded in recording the first human
electroencephalogram(EEG).Filled with doubt ,it took five years to publish his first paper in
1929.

Fig:4.1 First EEG signal

1972: Birth of Bionic Ear
In 1972, Robin Michelson, M.D. convinced the scientific community that meaningful sound
could be conveyed to the brain by electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. As of April
2009, approximately 188,000 people worldwide had received cochlear implants; in the
United States, about 30,000 adults and over 30,000 children are recipients.

1976: First Evidence that BCI can be used for communication:

Jaceques J. Vidal, the professor who coined the term BCI, from UCLA's Brain Computer
Interface Laboratory provided evidence that single trial visual evoked potentials could be
used as a communication channel effective enough to control a cursor through a two
dimensional maze. This presented the first official proof that we can use brain to signal and
interface with outside devices.

1978: First BCI to Aid the Blind:

Dr William Dobelle's Dobelle Institute first prototype was implanted into "Jerry", a man
blinded in adulthood. Jerry was able to walk around safely and read large letters. The
artificial vision system works by taking an image from miniature camera and distance
information from an ultrasound sensor, each of which is mounted on one lens of a pair of
sunglasses. These signals are processed by a 5 kg portable computer and then anew signal is
sent to 68 platinum electrodes implanted in the person's brain. The electrodes are on the
surface of the brain's visual cortex and stimulate the person to visualize the phosphenes,
specks of lights that show the edges of objects.

2002: Monkeys Trained to Control Computer Cursor:

In 2002, implanted monkeys were trained to move a cursor on a computer screen by
researchers at Brown University, led by John Donoghue. Around 100 micro-electrodes were
used to tap up to 30 neurons, but because the electrodes targeted neurons that controlled
movement, only three minutes of data were needed to create a model that could interpret the
brain signals as specific movements. The monkeys were trained to play a pinball game where
they were rewarded by quickly and accurately moving the cursor to meet a red target dot.

2005: First Tetraplegic Brain Gate BCI Implementation:

Tetraplegic Matt Nagle became the first person to control an artificial hand using a BCI in
2005 as part of the first nine-month human trial of Cyber kinetics Neurotechnologys Brain
Gate chip-implant. Implanted in Nagles right precentral gyrus (area of the motor cortex for
arm movement), the 96-electrode Brain Gate implant allowed Nagle to control a robotic arm
by thinking about moving his hand as well as a computer cursor, lights and TV.

Experiment: Monkey Brain Controlled Robotic Arm

A work presented at the annual meeting of American Association of the Advancement of
Science (AAAS) showed a monkey feeding itself using a robotic arm electronically linked to
its brain. The monkeys real arms are restrained in plastic tubes. To control the robotic arm,
96 electrodeseach thinner than a human hairare attached to the monkeys motor cortex, a
region of the brain responsible for voluntary movement.

IBM Blue Brain Project Launched:

IBM Blue Brain launched by the EPFL in 2005. The Blue Brain Project is an attempt to
reverse-engineer the brain. The researchers of the Swiss-based Blue Brain Project have
created a virtual pack of neurons that acts just like the real thing, and hope to get an e- brain
up and running.

Reconstruct Images Form Brain to Computer:

Research developed in the Advanced Telecommunications Research(ATR) Computational
Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan allowed the scientists to reconstruct images
directly from the brain and display them on a computer.

Voiceless Phone CallsThe Audeo:

Ambient, at a TI developers conference in early 2008, demoed a product they have in
development call The Audeo. The Audeo is being developed to create a humancomputer
interface for communication without the need of physical motor control or speech production.
Using signal processing, unpronounced speech representing the thought of the mind can be
translated from intercepted neurological signals

2009: Wireless BCI Developed

A Spanish Company, Starlab developed a wireless 4-channel system called ENOBIO.
Designed for research purposes the system provides a platform for application development.

BCI Communication between 2 people over the Internet :

Brain-Computer Interface Allows Person-to-person Communication through Power of
Thought. Dr. Chris James experiment had one person using BCI to transmit thoughts,
translated as a series of binary digits, over the internet to another person whose computer
receives the digits and transmits them to the second users brain through flashing an LED
lamp.

BCI allows Person to Tweet by Thought:

University of Wisconsin Department of Biomedical Engineering created a system that allows
a person to tweet with only a thought.

Honda Asimo Robot Controlled by Thought:

Honda enabled its famous Asimo robot to be controlled by the thoughts of a nearby human.

INDICATORS AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF BCI :

2015-2018:
By 2018, most of us will be controlling our computers or gaming devices with some form of
natural input such as speech, touch, sight, brain waves, etc. This first wave of natural input
devices will include brain signals control, a major first step towards social awareness of BCI
and encourages development in BCI.

2020-2025:
The advancement of nanotechnology will may help us to create smaller and far superior
chips. In around2020 to 2025, we will start seeing the first batch of researchers using
computers to simulate human brains. If quantum computing arrives, we may see this
happening even faster.

2025-2030:
Physically disabled people already getting help from BCI technology. This trend is increasing
very rapidly. Bionic ears implants are already very popular. Bionic eyes have been
experimented for a few years and the resolution of the bionic eyes are getting better each
year. Now a days user can control artificial arms and legs by using their thoughts. By 2030,
scientist can transplant Human brain to the robots.

2045:
By around 2045, we can hope to unlock the complexity of our brain to fully understand how
our brain works and decode our thoughts.

2060:
Human dreams can easily be visualized as video movie in the computer monitor.

2070:
By 2070, we can expect that human can easily communicate wireless through thoughts with
devices around us. We can call it e-meditation.

2080:
By 2080, human brains processing power and computer processors power can process
several mathematical or any other problems simultaneously.

2090:
By 2090, Dead Human brains thinking capability or thinking pattern can be transferred to the
computer and computer can process and can continue this thinking pattern and can give result
as Human. It may give Human brain immortality.

CONCLUSION :
In the end our vision is to inform what BCI is and what its very near history is. We also
demonstrate the present research condition of BCI .Nowadays BCI is the most popular
research field in the world and it is becoming the best solution for recovering the motor
disabled people of the world. BCI will be best solution for the treatment of lunatic people and
to develop the Intelligent Robot with human brain capability. So, we can say that the research
on this field is very important for the human kind.