Important Innovations Collection

Mind Over Matter with No Surgery Source:  Carnegie Mellon University Electrode Cape A new, noninvasive electrode cap - a brain computer interface (BCI) - enables the person wearing it to control a robotic arm by their thoughts.  It's breakthrough technology invented by engineers at Carnegie Mellon University.  It's the world's first, noninvasive mind controlled robotic arm.  No brain surgery or brain implants are involved. Helping Those With Mobility Issues The BCI system was developed with the goal of it helping people with mobility issues.  The electrode loaded cap can sense the brain's activity through the scalp.  The  Brain Computer Interface cap is able to make the robotic arm continuously and smoothly track and follow a computer curser by conveying the thoughts of the person.  To develop this system the team used novel sensing and machine learning techniques. Pervasive Assistive Technology The engineering team believe the BCI ...

Energy Monitor Detects Electrical Failures Before They Happen Source: MIT Power Monitoring System  Finds Burnt Wires under Gold Cap of Coast Guard Engine Sensor Monitors Wiring and Warns Repairs are Needed This innovative power monitoring system by MIT, that was just announced,  already has been successfully tested and prevented a potentially big problem.  Aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, the system's sensor placed on one wire found the ship's diesel engine had burnt out wiring damage, not viewable under a cap, that could have caused a fire.  That enabled the US Coast Guard to fix the problem before it happened. Power Monitoring Throughout a System The MIT system detects imminent electrical failures systemwide before they happen.  It's able to track the performance of all electrical devices in a building, ship or factory and sounds an alert if there is a sign of failure. It analyzes tiny changes in the voltage and current in every piece of eq...