Could mind control drones be about to enter the battlefield?

Ultra Precision Control Systems (PCS) has been developing “hands free” thought control technology which could be utilised by the dismounted soldier. The UK-based defence technology company demonstrated the concept by controlling a drone with mental commands at SAE Media Group’s Future Soldier Technology Conference in London this March.

Tony White, land strategy director at Ultra, explained that the UltraNIMBUS (Neurological Intelligent Monitoring and Brain Utilisation System) can leverage electrical neurotransmissions in the brain (brain waves) that occur at specific frequencies depending on the nature of their function. Brain activity can then be monitored using an ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) device which can be targeted to the specific areas of the brain that control particular functions.

The original concept for UltraNIMBUS was to measure individual stress levels, but this soon expanded. White said that control by mental commands can be achieved by learning a user’s thought signatures, although each thought needs to be different enough that algorithms can differentiate between them. An artificial intelligence (AI) engine learns each pattern and the command can be triggered once a threshold has been reached.

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The raw EEG data can be processed by the AI engine to achieve simple commands such as “push”, “pull”, “up” or “down”. White explained that these can then be used via a smart hub such as Ultra’s UltraLynx “to control whatever device we have connected”.

White remarked: “We could control the radio and use thought to change channels or adjust the volume, activate devices such as a flashlight or a bodyworn camera, navigate a menu, or control an uncrewed vehicle or a drone.”

The important factor, White said, was that the technology could be achieved without the user taking their hands off their weapon.

He explained that the project had investigated integrating the principle with the US Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) augmented reality headset, which has been based on Microsoft Hololens technology.

The UltraNIMBUS system was demonstrated by the conference chairman using an EEG device and a small drone. (Photo: Giles Ebbutt)

In conjunction with the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), Ultra conducted an experiment using a Hololens headset as an IVAS surrogate. Users were able to navigate menus displayed in the headset using thought and control a drone via the smart hub.

“Soldiers successfully flew a drone in the initial week,” revealed White. “After 30 days intensive training there was a significant improvement in performance. It’s now at about Technical Readiness Level 5 or 6.”

White added that Ultra would be conducting follow-up work with DEVCOM on both controlling ancillaries and stress monitoring. He demonstrated the capability at the conference by using the conference chairman equipped with an EEG device to launch a small drone following a short period of mental synchronisation.