Basic Study for New Assistive Technology Based on Brain Activity During Car Driving

Abstract

The purpose of this research is develop assistive robots and apparatuses. There is a pressing need to develop new systems that assist and act for car driving and wheelchairs for the elderly as the population ages. In developing systems, it is thought to be important to examine behaviors spatial recognition. Experiments have therefore been performed to examine human spatial perceptions, especially left- and right-side visual recognition, while cars being driven using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Previous research found significant differences in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the left cranial hemisphere during virtual driving and actual driving tasks. This paper discusses the measurement of brain activity during car driving. A detailed analysis was performed by segmentalizing brain activity during driving based on the motion of subjects, and we report on the relationship between brain activity and movement perception during driving.^*

^* This paper has been reviewed and accepted for Special Issue on Assistive Technology Based on ICT/IRT for Aged Society, Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, Vol.25, No.6, 2013.