Hardware Design
System Components
The BrainHero Toss hardware system links neural sensing to a concrete, game-like physical experience. A lightweight 3-electrode EEG headband records brain activity and basic signal quality metrics while a child plays, providing the primary neural input to the system. On the physical side, a motorized rail carries a tray that can translate along a fixed track with programmable position and speed, and a controllable throwing unit launches soft balls toward the tray with configurable timing and force. A camera mounted at the starting position continuously measures the distance between the thrower and the tray, and a microcontroller-based device controller coordinates these components and communicates with the host computer over USB or serial, ensuring that every motor command and sensor reading is precisely time-aligned with the cognitive tasks and EEG data.
Scientific Support
To support rigorous experimentation and safe use with children, the hardware incorporates several scientific and safety enhancements. A dedicated hit-detection sensor on the tray (e.g., a piezoelectric or optical switch) converts each ball impact into a clean digital signal, allowing ball–tray contact to be quantified rather than judged visually. Hardware interlocks enforce safe operation: when the system is not “armed,” the throwing mechanism is physically inhibited, and an emergency stop button can immediately cut power to all actuators. For neurodivergent and sensory-sensitive users, the platform also supports low-noise operation and optional haptic feedback, such as a gentle vibration in place of loud sound effects, making BrainHero Toss both a precise experimental apparatus and a child-friendly therapeutic game device.