From dream control in the brain to embodied intelligence, a startup is reshaping the boundaries of brain-computer interfaces.

As the application of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) gradually deepens in scenarios such as scientific research, medical treatment, and interactive entertainment, a startup named "Maschine Robot" is trying to carve out a path that combines technology and imagination in this cutting-edge field.

Founded in 2021, this company was born out of the technological background of the MIT Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory and the Stanford Neuroscience Laboratory. It was jointly founded by a group of researchers and engineers from the academic and industrial circles. Inspired by science fiction works such as Ex Machina and Westworld, Maschine Robot hopes to explore more possibilities of BCI and embodied intelligence around the vision of "digitizing thoughts" and "human-machine integration".

Currently, the company has launched multiple BCI platforms, chip solutions, and interactive entertainment products, and has completed financing of hundreds of millions of RMB. The information of the capital providers has not been disclosed yet.

Product Layout: Parallel Development for 2B and 2C

In terms of product structure, Maschine Robot divides its BCI platforms into two directions: To B and To C.

On the To B side, its "X-BCI" platform is positioned as an integrated BCI solution, combining hardware terminals, data platforms, and AI algorithm interfaces, covering the acquisition and analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from 1 to 16 channels. The "Spiking-BCI" focuses on the invasive chip platform, targeting Neuralink and offering high-throughput chip products from 64 to 1024 channels, supporting the acquisition and analysis of signals at the neuronal level.

In addition, the "Alfa-BCI" platform is designed for experimental and scientific research users, integrating a VR/AR multimodal interaction environment to support research between neural activities and behavioral data.

The To C product line is more experimental and exploratory. Maschine Robot has successively launched products such as "BCI-Dream" and "BCI-Sleep" focusing on sleep and dreams, "BCI-Music" for music and emotion recognition, and "BCI-Control" and "BCI-Feeling" for thought control and sensory enhancement. Some of these products were unveiled as prototypes at a press conference at the end of 2024, and the audience was invited to experience interactive forms such as emotion-driven music generation.

Among them, the "Dreamgear Dream Painting Device" is known as the world's first dream monitoring and reconstruction device based on the AGI algorithm. The specific technical parameters and verification paths have not been fully disclosed, and it is still in the early stage of application exploration.

Technical Concept: From Consciousness Analysis to "Thought Immortality"

In terms of the technical path, Maschine Robot set a relatively grand concept in its early development - to achieve "consciousness download" through BCI and "thought upload" through embodied intelligence, and finally connect the human brain with machines to realize the virtual mapping of "digital immortality".

To this end, Maschine Robot proposed a four-step path of "connect the brain - interpret the mind - copy the emotion - rebuild the body". With the help of AI, neuroscience, and humanoid robot technology, it transforms human intelligent attributes into computable and trainable models and transplants them onto virtual or physical agents.

Its "embodied intelligence" system collects behavioral parameters such as brain signals, motion data, and fine hand movements through wearable devices, and combines them with AI modeling to train robots to have human-like expressions and reactions.

Medical Attempt: ALS Assistance Project

Maschine Robot has also made attempts in the field of public welfare medical care. In cooperation with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the company launched the "BCI-ALS" brain-computer public welfare project for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It tries to provide interaction and expression possibilities for patients who are completely paralyzed but still have a clear mind through brain-controlled typing, voice synthesis, thought-controlled wheelchairs, and anthropomorphic robots.

The project currently focuses on three directions: brain-controlled communication, brain-controlled movement, and brain-controlled robot life assistance. The products include brain-controlled keyboards, intelligent terminals, and embodied replacement solutions. Although such applications are still in the stage of technical verification and clinical trials globally, they have become one of the important breakthroughs in the civilian use of BCI.

Forward-looking Research: Memory Transplantation and Virtual Self

Maschine Robot also has two long-term exploration projects, "BCI Memory Transplantation" and "Thought Immortality", aiming to collect, analyze, and reconstruct human memory around the neural memory mechanism, and further expand the modeling ability of the human cognitive system in the virtual space.

According to public information, the team is trying to record, model, and upload the "holographic information" of the brain in the form of data to a digital system or a robot agent to realize the concept of a "human brain twin". This direction is still mostly in the stage of theoretical and experimental verification, and there is still a significant distance from practical products.

Conclusion: Exploring the Boundary between Fantasy and Reality

The path depicted by Maschine Robot spans multiple complex and intersecting technological fields such as neuroscience, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and robotics, and also involves highly cutting-edge and even philosophical propositions, such as the digitization of consciousness, emotion, memory, and life.

Against the background that the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain are still taking shape and the ethical and regulatory systems are not clear, the implementation rhythm of its products and technologies still needs further observation. However, this company with "consciousness and embodiment" as its core concept is groping for an unconventional development path for BCI in the posture of a technological romantic.