Abstract:
Welfare robots, as a category of robotics, seeks to improve the quality of life of the elderly and patients by availing a control
mechanism to enable the participants to be self-dependent. This is achieved by using man-machine interfaces that manipulate certain
external processes like feeding or communicating. This research aims to realize a man-machine interface using brainwave combined
with object recognition applicable to patients with locked-in syndrome. The system utilizes a camera with pretrained object-detection
system that recognizes the environment and displays the contents in an interface to solicit a choice using P300 signals. Being a camerabased system, field of view and luminance level were identified as possible influences. We designed six experiments by adapting the
arrangement of stimuli (triangular or horizontal) and brightness/colour levels. The results showed that the horizontal arrangement had
better accuracy than the triangular method. Further, colour was identified as a key parameter for the successful discrimination of
target stimuli. From the paper, the precision of discrimination can be improved by adopting a harmonized arrangement and selecting
the appropriate saturation/brightness of the interface.
