WHAT IS B-CRATOS
Interdisciplinary project
reinventing Brain-Machine-Body connectivity
B-CRATOS is the project awarded the most funding in the Horizon 2020FET –Open 2020 cut-off. It unites 1 SME, 3 research institutes and 3 universities. In total, 25 specialists in Neuroscience, Electronics, Biomedical engineering, and AI will work together for 4 years to meet our ambitious goals
RADICAL VISION
Merging novel wireless communication, neuroscience, bionics, Artificial Intelligence and sensing technologies to create for the first time a battery-free high-speed wireless in-body communication platform for Brain-Machine-Body connectivity.
BREAKTHROUGH
TECHNOLOGICAL TARGET
B-CRATOS will codesign groundbreaking technological components – wireless two-way microwave fat intra-body and RF backscatter communication, battery-free powering technology, bio-inspired sensing, dexterous biomechatronic extremity – and create a proof-of-concept, revolutionary untethered brain-machine interface.
AMBITIOUS
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
B-CRATOS combines expertise in diverse fields spanning Electrical Engineering (RF Communication systems, Wireless Power Transfer, Microwave Intra-Body Communication, Implantable Electronics), Biomedical Engineering (Brain implants, Bio-Mechatronics, Electronic Skin), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (Deep learning, High-Performance Computing), and Medicine (Neuroscience, Neurosurgery)
Untethered Systems
Many current devices require percutaneous connectors and cables connected to bulky external systems, which prevent 24/7 use and can pose an infection risk. This additionally limits learning with the closed-loop system necessary for integrating sensory feedback from devices such as artificial skin and prosthetics.
Low Power Consumption, High Bandwidth
The high power requirements (and reliance on implanted batteries) and low signal bandwidth of current day implants limit not only the longevity of these systems, but also limit the quality and richness of neural information (such as action potentials) available to control prosthetics and other external devices.
Robust Wireless Communications
Current RF radios and HBC wireless systems are vulnerable to interference and security breaches. A changing environment and body dynamics also adversely affect today’s communication protocols. Wireless communication regulations restrict higher bandwidths for a single user in free space, and power consumption for high data rate communication is significant.
Point-to-Point Low Latency Communication
Current low latency solutions for in-body communication (e.g., brain-to-organ, organ-to-organ) requires implanted wires, which are prone to failure due to movement, challenging to implant/maintain, and vulnerable to medical complications.
Higher Resolution
Current artificial sensory and exoskeleton control resolution does not approach the fidelity of natural biological systems. Brain implant sensory perception is also limited by the number of channels, bandwidth and spatiotemporal resolution. Current electronic skin has limited spatial resolution.
Improved Dexterity
The challenge is to develop a bio-mechatronic prosthetic hand, that can reproduce the sensory-motor mechanisms found in humans. This includes the development of active prosthetic limb mechanisms and actuators with bio-inspired futures, and tactile sensors/artificial skin
C1Avoid tethered systems
a)percutaneous connectors and cables that prevent 24/7 use and limit learning with the closed-loop system necessary for integrating sensory feedback from the artificial skin and exoskeleton, or
b)Low bandwidth wireless communication with a limited number of channels and types of signals.
C2Low power consumption and high bandwidth
High power consumption and low bandwidth of current implants limit the number of channels, types of signals and longevity. Low channel numbers mean loss of signal richness and complexity. Limited signal types prevent the transmission of information-rich neural signals (spike action potential).
C3Point-to-point low-latency communication:
Current low latency solutions for in-body communication (e.g., brain-toorgan, organ-to-organ) requires implanted wires, which are prone to failure due to movement, challenging to implant/maintain, and vulnerable to medical complications.
C4High resolution:
Current artificial sensory and exoskeleton control resolution does not approach the fidelity of natural biological systems. Brain implant sensory perception is also limited by the number of channels, bandwidth and spatiotemporal resolution. Current electronic skin has limited spatial resolution
C5Robust wireless solution:
Current RF radios and HBC wireless systems are vulnerable to interference and security breaches. A changing environment and body dynamics also adversely affect today’s communication protocols. Wireless communication regulations restrict higher bandwidths for a single user in free space, and power consumption for high data rate communication is significant.
C6High dexterity:
The challenge is to develop a bio-mechatronic prosthetic hand, that can reproduce the sensory-motor mechanisms found in humans. This includes the development of active prosthetic limb mechanisms and actuators with bio-inspired futures, and tactile sensors/artificial skin.
Fig. Conceptual rendering of B-CRATOS
Click HERE to learn about how B-CRATOS will address these challenges
Non-human primate (NHP) testing
Fig. Continuous decoding of arm movements. (a-b) Monkey performing a grasping task with a set of six objects presented on a turntable. (c) Measured (blue curves) and decoded thumb and index finger kinematics (red curves) from population activity in M1. (d) Decoding accuracy in terms of correlation coefficient (cc; left) and relative root mean squared error (rRMSE; right); orange lines: chance level . (5%)40.
Project details:
TITLE: Wireless Brain-Connect inteRfAce TO machineS
START-END: March 2021 – February 2025
EU CONTRIBUTION: €4,475,059.25
TOPIC: FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020: FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 965044