BrainDriver

Team Berlin

Team Berlin, is a team of researchers and students in Berlin, Germany, who are also part of Artificial Intelligence Group of the Freie University Berlin.  They have teamed up with a vision to develop driverless cars for the future.

Team Berlin was created in 2006 by gathering members from Stanford University.  In the beginning they observed as Stanford Team prepared to compete in the DARPA Urban Grand Challenge where many different teams come together to compete against each other with their team built autonomous robotic vehicles that are capable of driving in traffic, performing complex maneuvers, passing, parking and negotiating intersections with no human drivers or remote controls.  Later, Stanford Team had helped Team Berlin in the starting process by providing information, technical documentations, and other sources.  The funds were also provided by the university to build the first autonomous vehicle. 

The research car drives using brain sensors.  The robotic car built by Team Berlin is called “MadeInGermany” which is a Volkswagen Passat wagon.  This research car is fully equipped with TRW radar, SMS radar, Lux laser scanner, GPS antenna, cameras, odometer, and Velodyne laser scanner, which provides 3D views of its surroundings.

After experimenting by using iPhone, iPad and an eye-tracking device to maneuver the autonomous cars, Team Berlin attempted to maneuver the robotic car using brain sensors.  The driver was required to wear a device around the head.  The device uses 16 EEG sensors that detect electromagnetic signals which are produced from human brain through thoughts.  The measurements from the sensors can be interpreted as patterns by the computer, which than commands the car perform tasks.  This allows the driver to steer the wheel and accelerate using brain  commands.

Even though this experiment was successful, it may take years to actually make this technology available for public.

Check out Team Berlin at: http://autonomos-labs.de/

Video Lnk: http://bit.ly/fzvbLa