Controlling a bionic hand with 'thoughts': BrainCo pioneers assistive tech
Zhou Jian plays the piano with a bionic hand. [Photo by Chen Tianhuai/tidenews.com.cn]
Imagine playing the piano using a bionic hand controlled solely by your thoughts. This innovation has become a reality at BrainCo, a Hangzhou-based tech company specializing in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
Zhou Jian, an experience officer for BrainCo's smart bionic hand, recently demonstrated its capabilities by performing a melody on the piano. This cutting-edge prosthetic, first showcased at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in 2023, allows users to perform intricate tasks like writing and grasping objects through thought-controlled movement.
The bionic hand utilizes non-invasive BCI technology to detect neural and muscular signals, translating them into precise finger movements. "It moves exactly as I think, giving me back the feeling of my lost right hand," Zhou shared.
Founded in 2015, BrainCo developed the bionic hand after a team member lost a limb in an accident. Over the course of eight years, the company overcame challenges in signal detection and algorithm refinement, achieving a prosthetic that combines intuitive control with medical-grade precision.
Since its 2020 launch, the bionic hand has undergone five major iterations and has become the world's first mass-produced neural-controlled prosthetic. BrainCo is also advancing solutions in rehabilitation and consumer electronics, producing over 100,000 portable high-precision BCI devices globally by 2022.
"Our mission is to integrate BCI with AI, big data, and cloud computing to create personalized solutions for a diverse array of users, from physical rehabilitation to mental health care," said co-founder He Xiyujin.
BrainCo's innovations are transforming lives, enabling independence for those with disabilities, and unlocking new possibilities in BCI technology.
Bionic hands developed by BrainCo have achieved mass production. [Photo by Chen Tianhuai/tidenews.com.cn]
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