Racing drones has become fairly common place in engineering departments at universities, but students from the University of Florida took it to a new level by controlling the flying robots with their minds.

The students controlled the drones using technology called brain-computer interface, Juan Gilbert, endowed professor and chair of UF’s computer and information science and engineering program, explained in a video posted Friday.

When people are hooked up to BCI technology, it gives them the ability to control an external device with their mind — sort of like mastering the force or telekinesis. It’s actually the same technology that gave a paralyzed man the ability to walk again.

university of florida drone raceYouTube/University of Florida

The students wore electroencephalogram (EEG) headbands that are able to measure electrical impulses from the brain. A computer program built by the University of Florida’s computer science and engineering department relayed these brain signals into commands for the drone, like “fly forward.”

“We’re starting a new trend in society, there will be future brain-drone competitions,” Gilbert said in the video. “We’re starting out with a simple little race right now, who knows where this will go.”

 

Social Media Development addict, Ashley Reyes is specialised on Emerging Techs & Crowdfunding Market. Ashley holds a Bachelor in Marketing and have 5+ years of experience in leader company as Marketing Intelligence Analyst . She is now Chief Community Officer at Athis News.