Xiangyu Medical Earns Praise from People's Daily for Breakthrough Brain-Computer Interface Innovations Enabling Mind-Controlled Robotics and Drones

(Source:Sunnyou Medical）

Source: Sunnyou Medical

Overseas Edition of People's Daily

(October 22, 2025, Issue 05)

At the Central Hospital of Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, a patient (on the far left) uses the brain-computer interface - neurorehabilitation EMG biofeedback therapy system developed by Sunnyou under the guidance of a therapist.

Writing with a mind-controlled robotic arm and remotely commanding drones through brainwaves... These scenes, once only seen in sci-fi movies, are gradually becoming reality thanks to the development and application of brain-computer interface technology.

Brain-computer interface, as the name implies, establishes a direct communication channel between the human brain and external devices. It acts as a "bridge" between the brain and machines, not only advancing the evolution of human-computer interaction but also opening new avenues for brain science research and the treatment of neurological disorders.

"This technology is significantly innovative, interdisciplinary, and cutting-edge, serving as a crucial engine for promoting the integrated development of multi-disciplinary fields," said Li Wenyu, Secretary General of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry Alliance. In recent years, China's brain-computer interface innovation ecosystem has been continuously improving, with technology undergoing iterative advancements and an increasingly rich supply of product services, moving rapidly towards scaling up.

Rehabilitation Training Equipped with "Mind-Reading Technology"

How does the amazing technology of brain-computer interface work?

Specifically, when the brain is engaged in mental activity, neurons fire to create brain waves. Brain-computer interfaces directly read brain intentions by identifying the characteristics of these brain waves and convert them into control commands or output signals, thereby enabling control over or interaction with external devices.

In terms of technical pathways, brain-computer interfaces are currently divided into two major directions: invasive (with surgery) and non-invasive (without surgery). Non-invasive brain-computer interfaces use electrodes, sensors, and other devices on the scalp surface to obtain information about brain activity. Invasive brain-computer interfaces involve implanting electrodes in the cerebral cortex, enabling higher precision and more complex neural control functions.

Currently, non-invasive brain-computer interface technology is relatively mature and has made positive progress in areas such as stroke motor rehabilitation and brain health monitoring, showing a good development trend.

"Try again, focus on thinking 'move forward'..." Recently, Xiangyu Medical Co., Ltd. held a new product experience event for brain-computer interface technology. With the guidance of the staff, participant Mr. Wang wore a brainwave collection device and controlled the lower limb exoskeleton beneath him solely through thought.RobotBegins to walk slowly.

"Previously, when I saw information about brain-computer interfaces online, it always felt far-fetched. But today, after experiencing it firsthand, I realized it’s like having 'mind-reading' abilities, making 'thoughts' turn into 'actions'!" Mr. Wang, 58, who has difficulty walking due to a stroke, could not hide his excitement after trying out the exoskeleton robot.

Sunnyou's Brain Science Lab Product Director Xia Lijun told reporters that there are already various paradigms for the application of brain-computer interfaces in rehabilitation. By real-time acquisition of brain signals such as steady-state visual evoked potentials and event-related potentials, and processing these signals through algorithms to drive external devices, a closed-loop system of "EEG acquisition - signal analysis - motion feedback" is formed. "Every successful training session promotes neural function remodeling, offering the possibility for patients with spinal cord injuries or strokes to regain movement and the ability to stand."

Xia Lijun introduced that Sunnyou's brain-computer interface technology has been applied in various scenarios such as cognitive speech training, motor rehabilitation, and neuro-modulation. The multi-channel wireless EEG acquisition device independently developed by the company boasts a signal accuracy rate of over 92%. Reporters learned that several companies in China have obtained medical device registration certificates for brain-computer interface motor rehabilitation equipment, which is used for the rehabilitation training of stroke patients with good therapeutic effects.

Meanwhile, China has made significant progress in multiple technical routes of invasive brain-computer interfaces, successively entering the clinical trial stage.

At the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, a 77-year-old patient with high-level paraplegia successfully used a mechanical arm to write the four characters "Zhejiang University" by imagining the movements in his brain. This achievement was made possible by two miniature chips implanted in the patient's brain five years ago by an expert team. These chips can precisely decode neural signals, enabling "brain-controlled" writing with a reaction time difference of only 0.2 seconds compared to that of an average person. At Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Mr. Yang, who had been paralyzed in all four limbs for 14 years, regained the ability to use a wireless minimally invasive brain-computer implant surgery. Not only can he now control an exoskeleton glove with his thoughts to perform grasping actions, but he can also independently pick up a water bottle to drink.

"In the medical and health field, although there are different technical routes for brain-computer interface technology at present, they are expected to converge in the future," said He Yongzheng, Chairman of Sunnyou Medical. "Non-invasive technology is constantly approaching the effects of invasive methods, while invasive technology continues to reduce trauma; everyone's ultimate goal is the same."

Use Mind to Open a New Life of Wisdom

With the rapid development of brain-computer interface technology, its application scenarios in non-medical fields are also expanding.

The driver, wearing a brain-computer interface device, opened the car window smoothly with just a thought.

"Using brain-computer interaction technology, we have achieved precise control of some devices inside the car, with system response delays below 0.2 seconds." Recently, at a test site in Changchun City, Jilin Province, researchers from the College of Bionics Science and Engineering at Jilin University were analyzing test data. Reporters learned that by wearing specially designed EEG monitoring equipment, neural signals generated in the driver's brain can be accurately captured and converted into commands, enabling operations such as opening the car windows and playing music.

"At present, China has made certain innovative breakthroughs in software, key algorithms, and typical applications of brain-computer interfaces," said Ming Dong, executive director of the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Symbiosis. He added that wider application of brain-computer interfaces still requires continuous exploration and innovation, as well as practical validation of their effectiveness.

The "Roadmap" for development has been clarified.

In recent years, the state has given strong support to the brain-computer interface industry at the policy level.

In July this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other departments jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), establishing a "roadmap" for the development of the brain-computer interface industry. The Opinions propose that by 2030, the innovation capability of the brain-computer interface industry will be significantly enhanced, forming a safe and reliable industrial system, nurturing 2 to 3 globally influential leading enterprises, and a group of specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

Industry insiders analyzed that the introduction of the "Opinions" will promote the improvement of the brain-computer interface industry ecosystem, enhance international competitiveness, while also driving the implementation of applications across multiple fields, which is beneficial for enhancing people's wellbeing.

Standards are crucial for industrial development. The National Medical Products Administration recently approved and released the industry standard "Terminology for Medical Devices Using Brain-Computer Interface Technology," which is the first brain-computer interface medical device standard in China. This standard clarifies the basic concepts of brain-computer interface medical devices, covering core terminologies such as paradigm types and signal forms, providing a unified and authoritative "common language" for product development, production inspection, and regulation.

"In addition to the 'Terminology' standard, three other brain-computer interface medical device standards have been fast-tracked for approval and formulation, including 'Closed-loop Implantable Neurostimulators,' 'EEG Datasets for Artificial Intelligence Algorithms,' and 'Performance of Motor Intent Encoding and Decoding,' " introduced Zheng Jia, Deputy Director of the Medical Device Standards Institute at the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control.

In order to seize the development opportunities of brain-computer interface, since this year, many places in China have introduced special policies to support the brain-computer interface field. The "Shanghai Brain-Computer Interface Future Industry Cultivation Action Plan (2025-2030)" focuses on promoting the application of invasive and semi-invasive brain-computer interface technologies in medical-grade scenarios; The "Beijing Brain-Computer Interface Innovation Development Action Plan" aims to initially form a brain-computer interface ecosystem by 2030 and create 1 to 2 demonstration zones for the agglomeration and development of the brain-computer interface industry.

Li Wenyu believes that, overall, China's brain-computer interface industry is in a phase where the technology exploration period and the early commercialization stage coexist. Research institutions and universities are continuously making breakthroughs in fundamental technologies such as algorithms, hardware, and signal processing. At the same time, some medical rehabilitation and consumer electronics products have started to be implemented. "It can be said that brain-computer interfaces are currently at a critical window period of moving from laboratories to industrialization, and the large-scale application of the technology is gradually approaching a 'tipping point.'"