The US Department of Defense continues its work on brain-computer interfaces and through its Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has signed contracts with five research groups and one private company.
The development of such technologies has been going on for quite some time, but the real potential of this technology has begun to unfold quite recently. The main goal of such interfaces is to create a basis for the development of more effective technologies for neuroprosthetics, which is a priority of the DARPA Neural Engineering System Design (NESD) program. As part of this program, the agency wants to develop high-precision neuro-computer interfaces that can not only restore, but also improve human feelings.
“The NESD program looks to a future in which advanced neural devices can offer improved accuracy and efficiency in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications,” says program manager Phillip Alvelda.
Among the six organizations with which DARPA has signed an agreement, four will develop technologies aimed at improving vision, the remaining two will focus on technologies that increase the efficiency of hearing and speech.
The Advanced Research Projects Directorate announced the creation of the NESD program last year. At the same time, the main task was to develop systems of neural interfaces that would make it possible to lay a direct communication link between the brain and the digital world. The core of the idea is to translate electrochemical signals produced by the brain into a binary code of ones and zeros used by computers. According to some experts, thanks to such systems, it will even be possible to program our neural code.
In the future, this will not only make it possible to treat people with various sensory disorders by transmitting sensory information encoded as a digital signal directly to the brain, but also to increase the efficiency of existing senses. The opening potential of neural interface systems has attracted the attention of other parties involved in similar technologies, the same Elon Musk, who wants to implement his Neuralink project. Its main mission is to enable humanity to keep pace with the evolving intelligent machines.
For DARPA, the key goal is to help those who suffer from sensory impairments. However, realizing that this is still a military organization, conclusions can be drawn accordingly.
“If we can find a way to transmit sensory signals directly to the brain, then the NESD program can actually lay the foundation for new neurological therapies,” Alvelda adds.
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“We are facing serious difficulties. However, the teams we selected came up with a range of plausible solutions that will enable coordinated success across multiple disciplines to translate those efforts into fully operational systems.”
Nikolay Khizhnyak