12/25/2025
Mr Zhang, a 28-year-old man in China paralyzed for eight years, can now control devices, a smart wheelchair, and a robotic dog using only his thoughts through a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI).
He was left paralyzed below the neck after a spinal cord injury from a fall in 2022. After more than a year of traditional rehabilitation with little progress, he joined a clinical trial led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Surgeons at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai implanted a fully wireless invasive BCI system. Tiny electrodes were placed in his brain, and a specialized medical device reads and powers the implant.
Just five days after surgery, Zhang could control things with his mind. Within a few weeks, he could move a computer cursor, browse the internet, and control devices. About six weeks later, he could operate a wheelchair, smart home devices, and even a robotic dog.
Today, Zhang can perform paid remote work using a brain-controlled cursor, making him the first known BCI trial participant to earn money this way.
His robotic dog can fetch items, and his smart wheelchair allows him to navigate outdoors. With practice, controlling devices has become increasingly natural for him.
The Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT) announced the project. After this success, they plan an upgraded system, WRS02, with more features and the future goal of decoding speech from brain signals.
This shows China’s fast progress in brain-computer technology, even outpacing early Neuralink tests.
