Video: Mind-powered gear shifting is here

21 comments
By Peter Suciu, in Detroit, Michigan, USA | Saturday, Sep 3, 2011 9.00am

Shifting gears using mind power – it sounds like something from a science fiction film. But it's something Parlee Cycles have achieved here and now with their Toyota Prius Project concept bike. This incredible machine is fitted with a brain-computer interface (BCI) which allows the rider to shift gears simply by thinking about it, using a modified Shimano Di2 group.

The system uses EEG – electroencephalography – to record electrical activity at the scalp of the rider, who must wear a special headset. These signals are then processed by a computer on board the bicycle. They're compared to patterns stored in a database and if a match is found, the computer can trigger an actuator such as a gear shift.

While Parlee, working with experimental design company Deeplocal, have proved that the system can work, unfortunately we can't expect brainwave shifters to show up for sale anytime soon. “This particular project will not be continued past the prototyping phase,” Patrick Miller of Deeplocal told BikeRadar.

Parlee's prius x project concept bike:

Parlee's Toyota Prius Project concept bike

However, Miller doesn’t think this is the end of the road. “In general, for this technology, I don't think we're too far off,” he said. “The technology is getting more and more affordable. As the quality and reliability of this technology improves, along with the lowering of cost, I think we'll see brain-computer interfaces being used more frequently. BCIs are being used by gamers already, and I think it'll creep into other industries in the near future.”

There are still concerns, chief among them being the need to actively think about shifting – easy enough in a lab, more difficult out on the open road where your brain's having to process all kinds of other information. “It’s still a bit of a challenge for our generation to use brain-computer interfaces,” said Miller. “The technology is still improving and we simply aren't accustomed to it yet.

An iphone used as the computer connection between the rider and shimano di2 group:

An iPhone is used as the computer connection between the rider and Shimano Di2 group

"I remember trying to teach my grandmother how to use a mouse to play solitaire – it was very difficult for her, she just wasn't accustomed to interacting with the device. As the technology becomes more accurate and more pervasive, it'll feel natural for us to control things in this way.”

While this project won’t result in a product that you’ll find at a local bike shop any time soon, Miller believes that if and when the idea is taken forward, it'll be far less primitive than what's been seen in the lab to date. “If this project were ever taken further, the technology would be redesigned as an embedded system sitting in the bicycle that communicates with a headset,” he said. “It would be very light.”

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User Comments

There are 21 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 21 of 21 comments

  • Sounds great until some joker come up beside you and starts shouting "DOWNSHIFT DOWNSHIFT DOWNSHIFT DOWNSHIFT DOWNSHIFT!"

  • Dav1: It's a thought based shifting system, not voice activated. Still it could be funny watching one person thinking about changing gear and everyone around him changes gear at the same time.....

  • or forget mind control and set a cadence / power range and your there already. what is wrong with a micro switch.

  • I tried to get an OCZ Neural gadget to work as a PC interface. The main downsides are innacuracy, training time and the daft headset. Headset is less of a problem for a bike as you'd hide it in your helmet. For device training I guess you'd wear of for a few hours using buttons to shift so it could learn what your brain is doing when you shift. That still leaves scope for errors.

  • @ salsarider79

    I was coming at it more from the "don't think about the moon" angle.

    Whats the first thing you thought of reading that?

  • Why bikes? Surely we'd see this technology in cars (where the real money is) first?

  • Hmm good idea but thinking could be some drawbacks as said in the real world - as you cycle for longer periods, your butt/ body is going to want to stop pushing itself further, brain will automatically tell you to slow down, change down gear/ relax. Another part of you will want to further your distance, keep you motivated. Conflicting between the two will cause random up/down shifts. Case of 'My mind is telling me no but my body my body's telling me yes' bloody r-kelly!

  • "Shifting gears using mind power – it sounds like something from a science fiction film." I can already shift gear just by thinking about it. I use my mind to change gear by controlling something called hands.

  • 'Don't think about shifting up! Don't think about shifting up...'

    -SHIFT UP-

    D'OH!

  • Do you have to think in Russian?

  • i got something similar i think about changing gear and my thumb jumps into action,never failed me yet

  • Thought Impulse? FireFox was just a novel. And the movie was just special effects. Still, thought impulse gear peeve anyone off but the rider. It's not like you can accidentally fire off a missile when you get fired up about a parking ticket. Neat looking frame though. And Firefox style headset!

  • Will it ghost shift when I'm low on blood sugar?

  • Pshh mind controlled shifting is for snobs, what we need is a bike that controls us and makes us push harder whether we want to or not. Just remember the safe word.

  • I would be terrified using this. Typical thought pattern on a ride:

    "Nice tits! Can't be bothered today. Yes you can. Fancy a curry tonight. With rice? Trying to lose weight. "Na, na, na, .." Why can't I get this song out of my head? Roads going up. Big gear, low revs? Small gear high revs? "Oi! Get out the way!". It's hot today. Like in Australia. Why do so many Australians work in bars in London? Why are they always so goddam cheerful? I miss my ex...Car!!! Thank God for mini-skirts. But I don't believe in God. Would God have Campagnolo? She's pretty. I like summer. What make of frame? Shall I get a Chinese? No, you'll get fat. Hey, fatty! Change gear. Up or down? How are my tan lines? I am Gilberto Simoni! Wait. this hill is only 3%. Who buys Pepsi? Oh! A garden centre. Could do with some new pots. Hill! Can I be bothered? Yes, you can. Why did I bother? You'll enjoy riding down it. Nice tits. Why don't you wear a helmet? Melon smashing. Yes you can. Obama! Good guy, but... etc, etc"

    I would end up in a bike race organised by Timothy Leary.

  • singlespeedexplosif -LOL - Shot the 'fox!

  • Neil023 brilliant lol.

  • neilo23... I want to ride where you do... all the girls seem fit!!

  • neilo23... I want to ride where you do... all the girls seem fit!!

    I didn't mention what they're like from the neck upwards (not saying that they're too ropey, though ;-) )

  • Yeah, it works fine until you start thinking about last night in bed with the wife... etc

  • Brain powered gears. That's me and my mates resigned to SS forever then....

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