Two Chinese patients with high-level paralysis have successfully used brain-machine interface (BMI) technology to control a power wheelchair, direct a robotic dog to retrieve deliveries, and operate a robotic arm to grasp a cup and drink water using only their thoughts. The achievements were announced on Wednesday at a media briefing by the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai. This marks a major advancement toward practical clinical applications of BMI.
Breakthrough Background
Two Chinese patients in their 30s with high-level paralysis received BMI system implants developed jointly by the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a corporate partner in June and October, respectively. One patient suffered a spinal cord injury from a fall in 2022, resulting in paralysis below the neck. After the June implant and two weeks of training, he could control computer cursors and tablets with thoughts. The team then expanded to physical interactions, including driving a power wheelchair in the neighborhood and directing a robotic dog to fetch deliveries.
Technological Innovations
This marks the first time globally that a power wheelchair and robotic dog have been controlled solely through thoughts. The team achieved breakthroughs like high-fidelity neural data compression, a hybrid decoding model for extracting signals in noisy environments, and neural manifold alignment for cross-day stability. End-to-end delay from signal acquisition to device execution was reduced to under 100 milliseconds—faster than natural neural delays—for seamless control. Implants were inserted via a 5-millimeter cranial puncture, the smallest reported worldwide, and the device is about half the size of Neuralink's.
Patient Impact and Applications
One patient now works as an intern product sorter, using brain control for online data annotation to verify AI accuracy in vending machines. He described the experience as intuitive, like controlling a video game character without conscious joystick thought. The other used a cost-effective robotic arm to grasp a cup and drink water. Compared to the March first case of cursor control for games, these enable three-dimensional physical interaction, previously unattainable self-care, employment, and social participation.
"Our research is advancing BMI technology toward practical clinical applications," said Zhao Zhengtuo, lead scientist from CEBSIT, Shanghai Huashan Hospital, and an industry partner. "With an open mindset, we are collaborating with various smart devices and application platforms to jointly promote cutting-edge BMI innovation in our country."
Poo Muming, CAS academician and CEBSIT director, noted all three trial patients are healthy post rigorous reviews. Future goals include finer control like mind-controlled piano playing.
The team anticipates restoring motor and language functions in three years, sensory restoration and neuropsychiatric treatments like Parkinson's and depression in five, and highly minimally invasive systems for medical and consumer uses in a decade. Zhao hopes procedures become as simple as ear piercings, with costs affordable like electronic products.
Unlike Elon Musk's Neuralink, which had an early start, China leverages a more integrated ecosystem for neurotechnology, low-latency communication, AI decoding, and robotics synergy.
