Contactless human–machine interface using room-temperature quantum magnetometers

Contactless Human-Machine-Interface Based on Magnetometers for Consumer Applications

This project tests whether sensitive, room-temperature quantum magnetometers can pick up tiny biomagnetic signals so healthy adults can control a simple device without touching it.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Robert Bosch GmbH (industry)
• Locations: 1 site (Renningen, Baden-Wurttemberg)
• Trial ID: NCT07466264 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Researchers will use novel, highly sensitive quantum-based magnetometers to record extremely weak biomagnetic fields (similar to magnetoencephalography) at room temperature in a controlled workplace setting. The team will quantify interfering biological signals and noise sources and test the system's ability to detect user intention for a simple contactless control task. Participants are right-handed, healthy adult employees of Robert Bosch GmbH who can lie still for short periods while recordings are made. The results are intended to inform future consumer applications of contactless human–machine interfaces.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are right-handed healthy adults (18+) with normal or corrected vision who are employees of Robert Bosch GmbH, can lie still for several minutes, and can give written consent.

Not a fit: People who are pregnant, have known cardiological, neurological, or psychiatric conditions (including epilepsy), claustrophobia or agoraphobia, metal-containing prostheses or pacemakers, weigh over 99 kg, or cannot lie still are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable consumer devices that users control noninvasively and without direct touch by decoding intent from biomagnetic signals at room temperature.

How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies using optically pumped and other room-temperature magnetometers have shown promise in measuring brain signals, but contactless consumer-grade human–machine interfaces remain largely unproven outside controlled research settings.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Are at least 18 years of age.
* Are right-handed with normal or corrected vision.
* Are employees of Robert Bosch GmbH and are participating in this study during their working hours.
* They have no acute physical or psychological impairments. They are self-sufficient and have the legal capacity to consent.
* They have provided written consent to participate in the study and for their data to be processed, and have not withdrawn this consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Known cardiological, neurological, or psychiatric pre-existing conditions, especially epilepsy, claustrophobia, agoraphobia.
* Metal-containing prostheses or pacemakers.
* Inability to lie still for several minutes.
* Body weight of more than 99 kg.

Where this trial is running

Renningen, Baden-Wurttemberg

• Robert Bosch Gmbh, Corporate Sector Research and Advance Engineering — Renningen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Eckhard Wehrse, MD — Robert Bosch GmbH
• Study coordinator: Eckhard Wehrse, MD

Conditions: Healthy Adult