Indian-origin scientist to help US troops control robots with thoughts

An Indian-origin scientist and his team in US have won a whopping USD 20 million contract from an ncy of defence department to develop a system that could allow a soldier to control multiple unmanned aerial vehicles or even a bomb disposal robot with his thoughts.

team heed by Gaurav Sharma, a senior research scientist at Battelle, is among six teams to win grants to develop brain-machine interfaces, according to a statement by Defence vanced Research Projects ncy (DARPA).

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Sharma, 40, has been tasked to develop a system that could ultimately allow a soldier to put on a helmet and use his mind to control multiple unmanned aerial vehicles or even a bomb disposal robot, Battelle, a Columbus-based R&D organisation, said in a statement.

Battelle's Next-Generation nsurgical Neurotechlogy (N3) programme for a minimally invasive neural interface system, has been named 'BrainSTORMS' (Brain System to Transmit Or Receive Magnetoelectric Signals).

BrainSTORMS involves development of a vel natransducer that could be temporarily introduced into body via injection and n directed to a specific area of brain to help complete a task through communication with a helmet-based transceiver, statement said.

Upon completion, natransducer will be magnetically guided out of brain and into bloodstream to be processed out of body, it said.

"This is one of most exciting and challenging projects I have worked on," said Sharma.

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"With BrainSTORMS, we will again be pushing limits engineering and physics. If successful, this techlogy would t only provide a safe and efficient way to facilitate human machine interactions but also has potential to revolutionise study of nervous system," Sharma said.

Battelle began first phase of programme with USD 2 million in funding to demonstrate core concept of techlogy. If team's concept proves successful, Battelle will receive ditional funding for second and third phases of programme, statement said.

full contract is worth approximately USD 20 million over four years for Battelle team.

Sharma, was instrumental in development of a neuroprostic techlogy named NeuroLife which has enabled a quriplegic man to move his hand again using his thoughts.

Battelle has for years successfully demonstrated brain-computer interface (BCI) projects