NIMA · Project

Non-Invasive Brain Interfaces That Let Workers Control Extra Robotic Arms Hands-Free

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Imagine if you could control a third arm just by thinking about it — no surgery, no implants. That's what NIMA worked on: wearable tech that reads your brain and body signals to let you operate an extra robotic limb or a computer at the same time as your natural hands. They built a sensory feedback suit so you can actually feel what the robotic arm touches, and tested this in scenarios like a surgeon handling three instruments at once instead of two.

By the numbers

consortium partners across multiple disciplines

countries in the research consortium

testbeds validated (robotic arm, surgery, computer interface)

working demonstrations delivered

total project deliverables completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Workers in surgery, manufacturing, and complex operations are limited to two hands. Critical tasks that require holding, positioning, and manipulating objects simultaneously force companies to deploy extra personnel or accept slower procedures. There is no commercially available, non-invasive way for a single person to control an additional robotic limb independently from their natural arms.

The solution

What was built

NIMA built a wearable sensory feedback suit (delivered in first and final release versions), demonstrated augmented manipulation of mobile devices and computers, and showed a three-tools surgery scenario on a phantom. In total, the project completed 11 deliverables including 4 working demonstrations across robotic arm, surgical, and computer interface testbeds.

Audience

Who needs this

Surgical robotics manufacturers developing next-generation operating room toolsCollaborative robot (cobot) makers looking for brain-controlled interfacesAssistive technology companies building wearable devices for people with disabilitiesDefense and aerospace contractors exploring augmented operator capabilitiesGaming and VR hardware companies developing immersive body-tracking systems

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical devices and surgical robotics

enterprise

Target: Surgical robotics companies or hospital technology departments

If you are a surgical robotics company looking to extend what a single surgeon can do during operations — this project demonstrated a three-tools surgery setup on a phantom, where one surgeon controlled an extra instrument hands-free through non-invasive brain-body interfaces. This could reduce the need for assistant surgeons and shorten procedure times. The team built and tested a sensory feedback suit across 3 testbeds with 7 research partners from 6 countries.

Industrial manufacturing and assembly

mid-size

Target: Manufacturers of collaborative robots or assembly line operators

If you are a factory operator dealing with complex assembly tasks that require more than two hands — this project built a wearable supernumerary robotic arm controlled through non-invasive interfaces. Workers could manipulate objects with their natural hands while the robotic arm holds, positions, or supports parts simultaneously. The consortium delivered 4 working demonstrations including augmented device manipulation.

Assistive technology and rehabilitation

any

Target: Assistive device manufacturers or rehabilitation clinics

If you are an assistive technology company developing solutions for people with limited mobility — this project created non-invasive interfaces with multimodal sensory feedback that translate brain and body signals into robotic limb control. The final release of the sensory feedback suit could form the basis for wearable assistive devices. The technology was validated across 11 deliverables by a 7-partner consortium including 4 universities.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adapt this technology for our products?

Based on available project data, no pricing or licensing terms are published. The project was coordinated by Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (a public university), so licensing would likely go through their technology transfer office. As a publicly funded RIA project, results may be available under negotiable terms.

Can this scale to industrial production or clinical use?

The technology was demonstrated at prototype level across 3 testbeds: wearable robotic arm manipulation, surgical instrument control on a phantom, and a three-hands computer interface. Moving from lab demonstrations to certified medical or industrial devices would require significant engineering, testing, and regulatory work. The 4 demo deliverables confirm working prototypes but not production-ready systems.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP from EU-funded RIA projects typically stays with the consortium partners who generated it. The 7 partners across 6 countries (DE, ES, FR, IT, RS, UK) likely share IP according to their consortium agreement. Contact the coordinator at Universität Freiburg for specific licensing discussions.

What regulatory approvals would be needed for the surgical application?

The surgical demonstration was performed on a phantom (simulated body), not on patients. Any clinical deployment would require medical device certification (EU MDR), clinical trials, and hospital safety approvals. Based on the project data, no regulatory submissions have been made — this remains a research-stage demonstration.

How long before this could be integrated into our existing systems?

The project ran from 2020 to 2024 and produced working prototypes including a sensory feedback suit with 2 release cycles (first and final release). Integration into commercial products would likely require additional engineering partnerships. The non-invasive nature (no implants) is an advantage for faster adoption compared to invasive alternatives.

Does this require specialized hardware or can it work with standard equipment?

Based on the deliverables, the system includes custom components: a purpose-built sensory feedback suit and a wearable supernumerary robotic limb. The computer interface augmentation testbed worked with mobile devices and standard computers. Full integration details would need to be discussed with the consortium's 1 industry partner and 2 research organizations.

Consortium

Who built it

The NIMA consortium brings together 7 partners from 6 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Serbia, UK), led by the University of Freiburg — a top German research university. The team is heavily academic: 4 universities and 2 research organizations, with only 1 industry partner (14% industry ratio) and zero SMEs. This composition is typical of a FET Open project pushing fundamental science boundaries. For a business looking to commercialize, the low industry involvement means the technology will need a strong commercial partner to bridge the gap from lab to market. The multi-country spread is a plus for accessing diverse expertise but may complicate IP negotiations across 6 jurisdictions.

ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURGCoordinator · DE
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITA CAMPUS BIO MEDICO DI ROMAparticipant · IT
TECNALIA SERBIA DOO BEOGRADthirdparty · RS
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSthirdparty · FR
SORBONNE UNIVERSITEparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg technology transfer office, Germany

Order a report on this consortium See ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the NIMA research team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific use case — surgical robotics, industrial augmentation, or assistive devices.

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