Wheelchair steered using brain waves developed by Toyota

Mind control: Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has developed a way to steer wheelchairs using brain signals alone

A wheelchair that can be steered by brainwaves alone has been developed by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota.

The company said it is among the fastest systems in the world for analysing brain signals.


The cap, which can read brain signals, relays them to a electroencephalograph scanner (EEG), which analyses the readings on a computer in the chair.

The revolutionary system allows the wheelchair user to turn left or right and go forward, almost instantly, according to the researchers involved.


Coming to a stop requires more effort however. The user must puff up a cheek, which is picked up by a detector worn on the face.

Research into mobility is part of Toyota's larger strategy to expand its repertoire beyond automobiles.

Japanese rival Honda is also working on a system to connect brain signals with a mechanical response.