Home Automation System Controlled Through Brain Activity

Abstract

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology allows brain activity to be used as a communication channel without the need for muscle activity. Therefore, this technology could be suitable for patients with severe muscular impairments. However, BCI systems have not been easily adapted to control external devices. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to control a home automation system through a BCI that allows the construction of voice commands. Six healthy users have tested the proposed system. The controlled appliances were: WhatsApp, Spotify, Google Nest, smart light bulb, smart plug (to turn on/off a radio) and an infrared controller (to control a TV and an air conditioner). Participants controlled the system for approximately 32 min, with an accuracy of about 80%. In definitive, it has been successfully demonstrated that the use of a BCI system for home automation control could be implemented in a flexible way and could be adapted to the needs of a user.