A paralyzed Chinese man has developed a prototype for a mind-controlled wheelchair, winning first place in a technology competition in China.
Wang Ning, 33, and his wife participated in the Hackathon hosted by RedNote in Shanghai. During these competitions, developers develop products or prototypes of electronic devices from scratch within a time limit. They often spend the entire competition period at the event site, working, eating, and sleeping until their projects are completed. During the competition, Wang Ning managed to develop a model of a mind-controlled wheelchair within 48 hours, winning first place.
Wang's ordeal began in 2020 when doctors diagnosed him with a tumor in his spinal cord. After undergoing two major surgeries, he suffered complete paralysis twice. At the most difficult stages, he was only able to move his eyes and suffered from severe nerve pain. Thanks to the support of his wife and rehabilitation programs, the man was gradually able to regain the ability to stand and walk.
Although he graduated from the College of Fine Arts and has no experience in programming or technical engineering, Wang began learning artificial intelligence and computer interface technologies in 2022, relying on books and online resources, according to CCTV. His illness inspired him to participate in the competition, enabling him to develop the first wheelchair controlled by brain signals in a record time of only 48 hours.
The prototype developed by Wang won first place in the hardware category and a cash prize of 50,000 yuan (about $7,000). In July, the wheelchair was showcased at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. The system is said to support multi-directional mind control and has evolved into an integrated system that also allows users to control devices such as lamps, cameras, and air conditioners.
Some reports indicate that Wang also developed a navigation app specifically for wheelchair users, and contributed to the development of low-cost tools for rehabilitating paralyzed people, and games that help those with spinal cord injuries to recover.
