Software interface for controlling diverse robotic platforms using BMI

This paper presents a software interface that allows a user to control different types of robotic systems by using a Brain-Machine Interface. Unlike common device-specific BMI systems, our software architecture maps simple EEG-based commands to diverse functionalities depending on the robotic platform, so the user does not have learn to generate new EEG commands for different robots. The graphic user interface provides a mechanism that allows the user to navigate through menus using EMG signals (i.e. eye-blink), and then execute robot commands using EEG signals. Our software is based on a modular design that allows the integration of new robotic platforms with easy customization. Our current prototype explores the controllability of a humanoid robot, a flying robot and a pan-tilt robot using the proposed software interface. Experimental evidence shows that the system achieves good user satisfaction as well as easy controllability of different types of robotic systems.