On the Use of the EMOTIV Cortex API to Control a Robotic Arm Using Raw EEG Signals Acquired from the EMOTIV Insight NeuroHeadset

Abstract

This paper explores the feasibility of using the Emotiv Cortex Application Programming Interface (API) service to obtain raw sensor signals from the Emotiv Insight NeuroHeadset for the control of a robotic arm. A data acquisition software based on Python was developed to use the service through data streaming in a Websocket. Raw EEG and motion sensor signals from the headset were processed for event detection. Detected events were then used to trigger control signals to a robotic arm controlled by a Raspberry Pi 3 using the IoT MQTT protocol. The results obtained indicate that the proposed approach and the algorithms developed were adequate translated into valid commands for effective development of a Head-Computer Interface that enables complete interaction with a robotic arm.