All Stories

Using the force

Moving objects with your mind is closer to reality than you think. Engineers at the University of Minnesota have designed a helicopter that moves based on your brainwaves. Subjects were hooked up to an EEG (electroencephalograph) using electrodes to pick up brainwaves from a specific area called the sensory-motor system. Neurons in this system  are activated by motor imagination, where you imagine yourself doing a specific movement.

To move the helicopter, subjects were trained to imagine a series of movements. For example, to move the helicopter up, subjects imagined moving their tongue or feet up. To move the helicopter to the right or left, they imagined moving their hands right or left. To move the helicopter forward, they imagined raising their arms. Once mastered, the subjects moved the helicopter with their minds, while watching a live feed from an on-board camera. Subjects were able to successfully move through eleven consecutive rings on an obstacle course without crashing.

The engineers hope this type of research can be applied to those with prosthetic limbs where currently invasive surgery is required to implant electrodes to make the prosthesis move.

If you’re interested in moving objects with the power of your mind, on your next visit to TELUS World of Science check out our exhibit “Relax”, located near Science Theatre on the second floor and "Mind Flex" located in our BodyWorks Gallery.  

For more information, check out the original articles: 

Continuous Three-Dimensional Control of a Virtual Helicopter Using a Motor Imagery Based Brain-Computer Interface. 
Alexander J. Doud, John P. Lucas, Marc T. Pisansky, and Bin He

Quadcopter control in three-dimensional space using a noninvasive motor imagery-based brain–computer interface. 
Karl LaFleur, Kaitlin Cassady, Alexander Doud, Kaleb Shades, Eitan Rogin and Bin He

Mind Over Mechanics by University of Minnesota on YouTube 

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.