Apr. 2, 2009 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) -- In a development that realizes a scenario out of a science fiction movie, scientists have developed technology enabling a robot to be controlled by thought power.

A user wears a helmet that detects changes in blood flow and brain waves in different parts of his or her brain and converts them into radio signals that are transmitted to the bipedal humanoid robot, operating its limbs and making it speak.

The technology was developed by a team of scientists from Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:HMC) and others.

In experiments using Honda's Asimo robot, test participants were able to move the robot's limbs and make it speak just by imagining those actions, with a success rate of 90 percent.

Similar research is being done in the United States and European countries, but the success rate there reportedly is between 60 percent and 70 percent.

So far, the Japanese team has only been able to have the robot raise its arms and legs and utter a few words in response to controllers' thoughts. There is a delay of about seven seconds between the detection of changes in a test participant's brain and corresponding reactions by the robot. The brain wave reader weighs about 300 kilograms and is as large as a chest.

The team will continue carrying out experiments with the aim of enabling Asimo robots to perform more complicated actions. The team also hopes to develop a portable brain-wave reader.