Title: Progress in Brain-Computer Interfaces: From Neuroimaging to Vehicle Applications

Abstract:

Brain–computer/machine interfaces (BCI/BMI) provide a means of controlling machines and robots for locked-in individuals by directly interpreting neuronal signals from the brain. Recently, researchers have successfully trained people with head-implanted microelectrodes to control robotic and prosthetic arms. However, noninvasive methods are preferable, as they avoid the inherent medical risks of microelectrode implantation. Moreover, control engineers can play more significant roles in advancing noninvasive approaches. In this talk, current BCI/BMI technologies will be briefly overviewed, with attention given to both invasive and noninvasive imaging techniques. Particular emphasis will be placed on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), an emerging noninvasive brain imaging technique that measures the hemodynamic response of the cerebral cortex using near-infrared light (650–1,000 nm). The advantages of fNIRS—its low cost, portability, and better temporal resolution compared to fMRI—make it a promising solution for real-time imaging. Recent research demonstrates the great potential of fNIRS as a tool for BMI. Several examples of other BMI techniques will also be illustrated. Beyond medical and assistive applications, BCI technologies are now entering the vehicle industry. Noninvasive methods such as EEG and fNIRS are being explored for driver state monitoring (e.g., detecting fatigue, distraction, or cognitive workload), adaptive human–machine interaction, and safety-enhancing control systems. These neuroergonomic applications aim to create intelligent vehicles that can respond to the driver’s mental state in real time, thereby improving both performance and safety.

Biography: Keum-Shik Hong (洪金植), a South Korean scholar, is a Distinguished Professor and a doctoral supervisor at Qingdao University. He received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University, his M.S. degree from Columbia University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, all in mechanical engineering in 1979, 1987, and 1991, respectively. Dr. Hong is a Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, the Korean Academy of Engineering, IEEE, IFAC, and the Asian Control Association (ACA). He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology and the International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems. He received the Presidential Award of Korea (2007) and the Service Merit Medal of Korea (2022) from the Korean government. He also served as President of the Asian Control Association. Dr. Hong’s Google Scholar citations exceed 20,830, with an h-index of 78. His research interests include adaptive control, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics.