Summerer Leopold, Izzo Dario, Rossini Luca
Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
Int Rev Neurobiol. 2009;86:213-23. doi: 10.1016/S0074-7742(09)86016-9.
Recent advances in brain research and brain-machine interfaces suggest these devices could play a central role in future generation computer interfaces. Successes in the use of brain machine interfaces for patients affected by motor paralysis, as well as first developments of games and gadgets based on this technology have matured the field and brought brain-machine interfaces to the brink of more general usability and eventually of opening new markets. In human space flight, astronauts are the most precious "payload" and astronaut time is extremely valuable. Astronauts operate under difficult and unusual conditions since the absence of gravity renders some of the very simple tasks tedious and cumbersome. Therefore, computer interfaces are generally designed for safety and functionality. All improvements and technical aids to enhance their functionality and efficiency, while not compromising safety or overall mass requirements, are therefore of great interest. Brain machine interfaces show some interesting properties in this respect. It is however not obvious that devices developed for functioning on-ground can be used as hands-free interfaces for astronauts. This chapter intends to highlight the research directions of brain machine interfaces with the perceived highest potential impact on future space applications, and to present an overview of the long-term plans with respect to human space flight. We conclude by suggesting research and development steps considered necessary to include brain-machine interface technology in future architectures for human space flight.
脑研究和脑机接口的最新进展表明，这些设备可能在下一代计算机接口中发挥核心作用。脑机接口在治疗运动瘫痪患者方面的应用取得了成功，同时基于该技术的游戏和小工具也初步得到开发，这使得该领域逐渐成熟，并使脑机接口即将具备更广泛的实用性，最终开拓新市场。在载人航天飞行中，宇航员是最宝贵的“载荷”，宇航员的时间极其宝贵。由于失重会使一些非常简单的任务变得乏味和繁琐，宇航员在困难和特殊的条件下工作。因此，计算机接口通常是为安全和功能而设计的。因此，所有在不影响安全性或总体质量要求的前提下，提高其功能和效率的改进措施和技术辅助手段都备受关注。脑机接口在这方面展现出一些有趣的特性。然而，为地面运行而开发的设备能否用作宇航员的免提接口，这一点并不明确。本章旨在突出脑机接口在对未来太空应用具有最高潜在影响方面的研究方向，并概述载人航天飞行的长期计划。我们通过提出将脑机接口技术纳入未来载人航天飞行架构所需的必要研发步骤来进行总结。
