(Yicai) April 29 -- Chinese scientists reached a new milestone in brain-computer interfaces to enable a monkey to control a robotic arm with its thoughts ahead of experiments with humans.

The Chinese Institute for Brain Research and Xinzhida Neurotechnology, a Beijing-based BCI startup, released the latest achievements of Beinao 2 BCI during the Zhongguancun Forum held in Beijing till today. This is the first time that a monkey is able to use just thoughts to control a robotic arm to stop an object from moving on the screen, they said. 

The team has carried out about 10 experiments with monkeys to test different electrodes and motor tasks, Li Yuan, director of business development at Xinzhida, told Yicai. The Beinao 2 BCI uses high-throughput flexible microfilament electrodes that can accurately capture electroencephalogram signals even after one year of use, Li added.

The team has begun preparing for human trials and choosing suitable patients, mainly people with movement disorders, according to Luo Minmin, director of the CIBR.

Many domestic startups such as NeuroXess, Neuracle, and BrainCo are working on BCI technologies to catch up with Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which announced in February that a human who was using a brain implant could control a computer mouse with thoughts.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine