Chinese scientists make progress toward the realization of real telekinesis.

 


The first step towards real-time, remote, and wireless mind control of metamaterials is advanced in a research publication titled "Remotely Mind-controlled Metasurface through Brainwaves."

When you think of telekinesis, which is the ability to move distant things with your thoughts, you probably picture figures from pure fiction, like Luke Skywalker from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back or a number of X-Men. In reality, scientists are working on it, and for some of them, a technique known as metamaterials is the key.

Due of their remarkable physical characteristics, metamaterials have garnered considerable interest from several sectors. It has given scientists a fresh perspective on creating artificial materials, giving enhanced functional materials life and vitality. Metasurfaces, the two-dimensional counterpart to metamaterials, offer a level of electromagnetic (EM) wave manipulation never before possible.

Programmable metasurfaces (PMs) with various or switchable functionalities can be created by on-site programming and afterwards combined with sensors or powered by pre-defined software. By eliminating human intervention, the self-adaptability greatly raises the response rate. On these PMs, the switches between various functions are often operated manually. Wire connections, manual control, and non-real-time switching comprise the basic architecture. In order to accomplish distant, wireless, real-time, mind-controlled functioning metasurfaces, it is fascinating to build a full framework.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore and the Air Force Engineering University collaborated to advance the first step toward real-time, remote, and wireless mind control of metamaterials in a recent paper that was published in the journal eLight. The team was led by Professors Shaobo Qu, Jiafu Wang, and Cheng-Wei Qiu. They offer a plan for doing this in their article, "Remotely Mind-controlled Metasurface through Brainwaves."

In the past, many situations have often required the presence and cooperation of humans. The metasurface should be directly controlled by a human being. Additionally, it is commonly known that when a person thinks, their brain produces brainwaves. The scientists hypothesized that users will be able to operate metasurfaces with their minds by recording brainwaves and utilizing them as control signals. Additionally, metasurface reaction rates would be enhanced. A significant step toward completely intelligent metasurfaces would be made by this breakthrough.

The study team used Bluetooth to wirelessly send brainwaves from the user to the controller in order to accomplish remote control. The idea was to use the user's brainwaves to regulate the PMs' EM response. They showed an RMCM where the user may modify the dispersion pattern by going in this direction.

The outcomes of the tests and simulations were directly influenced by the user's brainwaves, with a much higher control rate and switch rate. That suggests that their model was far better than any other model or product already on the market. To increase the precision of their machinery, they might further personalize its design.

The study team intends to use this in conjunction with clever algorithms to enhance the procedures in the future. They feel that the application of their research to further mind-controlled functional or multi-functional metasurfaces is simple. It could have uses in a variety of industries, including health monitoring, 5G and 6G communications, and smart sensors.