He Xi Yujin of BrainCo: Unlocking New Possibilities in Life Through Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces

Source: China Securities Journal

"BrainCo's bionic hand is one of the few mass-produced prosthetics that allows users to control each finger through neural signals without undergoing craniotomy. After wearing the product, users can independently move each finger to complete most tasks required in work and daily life." Recently, He Xiyujin, a partner at BrainCo, stated in an exclusive interview with a reporter from the China Securities Journal.

Currently, brain-computer interface technology is at a critical stage of transitioning from laboratories to industrialization. Among them, the non-invasive brain-computer interface technology path has become the focus of market attention due to its higher safety and inclusive potential.

On the evening of September 2,Dow Technology(Maintain Rights)Announcement: The company's controlling subsidiary has invested $30 million to subscribe for BrainCo's Pre-B round preferred shares. Dao's Technology plans to rely on its many years of experience in the materials field to build a platform enterprise of "AI + materials", and cooperate with BrainCo in the "AI + materials" strategy, further enhancing the ecological empowerment and commercial landing capabilities of "AI + new materials".

Bionic Hand for Humans andRobotEmpower

"We hope to use brain-computer interface technology to enable physically disabled individuals who have lost their hands or legs to enjoy a more convenient life with the help of bionic prosthetics. Allowing those without hands to grasp objects through bionic prosthetics, those without legs to stand and walk with bionic prosthetics, and even perform many physical activities." He Xiyujin stated, "Currently, the company’s mass-produced bionic prosthetic products can assist users in performing daily tasks such as grasping objects, writing, and playing musical instruments."

A user of BrainCo's bionic leg told reporters that an accident during farm work in his childhood resulted in the amputation of his right leg, and before the age of 21, he had been using a traditional mechanical prosthesis. "This kind of traditional prosthesis relies on a mechanical structure for support, making it very easy to fall when encountering complex road conditions or obstacles. After choosing BrainCo’s bionic prosthetic product, I found that this product has a buffering process upon landing, and even if I accidentally step into a void, I won’t fall. Moreover, the way it facilitates walking is very natural; when wearing long pants, it’s almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person."

BrainCo has also improved the convenience for users to collect bioelectrical signals. On-site, the reporter wore a sensor on the arm and achieved simple control of the bionic hand after about one minute of electrical signal collection, with thoughts in the brain translating directly into actions performed by the product, without noticeable delay.

Interestingly, BrainCo's积累 in the仿生手 field has also made it an important supplier of dexterous hands for humanoid robots. Since last year, several humanoid robot companies have actively sought cooperation with them, prompting the company to embark on a new journey of creating robotic hands.

He Xiyujin said, "As the popularity of humanoid robots continues to rise, we have realized that more than half of the engineering challenges lie in the hands. Without a pair of hands capable of flexible operation, robots would be like large remote-controlled toys, with many functions unable to be implemented. BrainCo's years of technical accumulation and user experience in bionic hands can be largely reused for robotic dexterous hands. Therefore, we were able to quickly enter this field and have now become one of the leading suppliers of dexterous hands in China in terms of shipment volume."

Read Weak Human Electrical Signals

To achieve mind control of bionic prosthetics, simply put, it is to read and parse the neuroelectric signals and muscle electric signals of the human body, then convert them into mechanical signals to transmit to the prosthetic limb to complete the corresponding action.

He Xiyujin stated, "The intensity of human brain electrical signals is extremely weak, only ±50 microvolts, equivalent to one millionth of a AA battery, making it extremely difficult to detect."

To overcome this challenge, BrainCo has made dual innovations in materials science and AI algorithms. On one hand, the team achieved innovation in signal acquisition materials; on the other hand, it relied on AI algorithms to separate effective signals from a large amount of noise and convert them into control commands.

"We have made a breakthrough in materials science and developed sensor materials that can capture raw signals more sensitively and stably. They also eliminate the need for users to apply conductive gel on their skin, allowing the material to directly contact the skin and simplify the usage process," said He Xiyujin.

She also mentioned that AI is deeply rooted in the genes of non-invasive brain-computer interface technology. The industry's explosive growth in recent years is thanks to the continuous upgrading of AI algorithms. "It is precisely because AI algorithms have become powerful enough that we are able to extract the information we need from very complex and noisy signals. At the same time, with the development of large models, our understanding of the human brain will continue to deepen. We can better interpret personalized electrical signals from different people and have more solutions to serve humanity."

He Xiyujin stated that brain-computer interface technology is currently "at a critical period of transitioning from laboratories to the real world." The biggest bottleneck in its development lies not only in engineering aspects but also in the insufficient understanding of the human brain itself. "The brain has nearly 100 billion neurons, and many of its mechanisms remain unclear. Many scientists who study fundamental sciences are now helping us understand the brain better."

Pay more attention to consumer needs

Brain-computer interface technology directly targets the C-end consumer group. Beyond the technical aspects, BrainCo needs to focus more on consumer demands to realize the company's vision of "unlocking more possibilities for life."

He Xiyujin expressed that he hopes the next generation of bionic prosthetics can move from one-way control to two-way interaction, allowing users to perceive external temperature, the softness or hardness of objects, etc., through the product.

Making technology accessible to those in need is another key goal of BrainCo. "Although BrainCo has reduced the price of its bionic prosthetics to 1/5 or 1/10 of European brands, it is still a significant burden for many disabled individuals," said He Xiyujin.

To this end, BrainCo has partnered with local disabled persons' federations, foundations, and other organizations to carry out public welfare collaborations. Funded by charitable organizations and benevolent enterprises, they provide free bionic hands and legs to eligible disabled individuals. Currently, the "Zhejiang Science and Technology Assistance Public Welfare Project for People with Physical Disabilities," initiated by the Zhejiang Disabled Persons Welfare Foundation, has benefited 400 individuals.

"We also plan to help 2,000 disabled people in Zhejiang install bionic prosthetics for free this year. By mobilizing social forces, we aim to assist vulnerable groups in stepping out of their previously closed small circles and reintegrating into society," said He Xiyujin.