Its core function is to collect biological signals such as EEG, EMG, and ECG, and then use it with its GUI software or BrainFlow SDK for real-time display, signal processing and data analysis.
That is, OpenBCI is an open source Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) platform that aims to develop hardware and software that allows more people to access and use bioelectrical signals cheaply and safely for creation, research or experiments. The following is a detailed introduction:
What is OpenBCI?
- OpenBCIOpen Source Brain-Computer Interfacing is an open source brain-computer interface platform launched by Joel Murphy and Conor Russomanno and initially funded through the 2013 Kickstarter launch
- Its core goal isAllowing more people to access and control electrical signals in their bodies (brain, muscles, heart) at low cost, stimulate creativity and research exploration through open source hardware + software tools
OpenBCI hardware
- OpenBCI has developed a number of low-cost bioelectrical signal acquisition boards (EEG, EMG, ECG):
- Support standard EEG electrodes, EMG, ECG acquisition, etc.
- Including an 8-bit Arduino-compatible board and a 32-bit board, using TI’s ADS1299 ADC chip to collect bioelectrical signals and transmit data through SD card or Bluetooth
- Representative products include Cyton board(Expandable to 16 channels),Ganglion board(4 channels), etc.
- Provides open source 3D printed head-mounted racks Ultracortex(such as Mark III / Mark IV) for easy electrode fixation and wearing
- One of the latest products is Galea: A mixed reality (MR) headset that integrates EEG, EMG, EDA, capacitive PPG (optical body) and eye tracking, starting shipping in 2024
OpenBCI’s software and community ecosystem
- OpenBCI provides multiple open source software libraries and tools:
- OpenBCI_GUI: Cross-platform applications, supporting Cyton and Ganglion, available for macOS, Windows, Linux
- Python support libraries (such as
OpenBCI_Python/pyOpenBCI) Used to read and analyze onboard data streams and provide a signal processing interface. This library has been deprecated and it is recommended to migrate to the newer BrainFlow-Python tool
- Community projects are rich and diverse：
- Many developers use OpenBCI to do brain-controlled robots, games, artistic creations, etc., such as controlling robot spiders, remotely controlling sharks, using mental painting, etc.
- There are also academic directions, such as using the cEGrid ear electrode configuration for hidden EEG acquisition, or using the OpenBCI platform to develop a truly barrier-free brain-controlled prosthesis (the 2025 CognitiveArm project).
OpenBCI repository structure on GitHub
The OpenBCI GitHub organization contains multiple open source repositories for different purposes, such as:
| warehouse name | content abstract |
|---|---|
| Documentation | Document content, describing how to use the OpenBCI platform |
| OpenBCI_Ganglion_Library, Cyton_Library, Radios | Firmware or Arduino library for hardware boards |
| OpenBCI_GUI | GUI application cross-platform support |
| OpenBCI_Tutorials | Use tutorials and examples, commonly used Jupyter Notebooks to provide demonstrations |
| Hardware Design Files | Including Ultracortex and hardware-related designs |
| Some experimental projects(Such as cEEGrid, etc.) | More dedicated project modeling or interactive examples |
summary
OpenBCI is a collectionHardware, software, community developmentAn integrated open source BCI platform aims to make EEG/EMG/ECG data collection more open, easier to use and more interesting. They not only provide printable headsets designs, but also lower the threshold of brain-computer interface technology through boards and open source software, attracting the participation of researchers, makers, artists and other multi-field groups.
Official website:https://openbci.com/
Github：https://github.com/OpenBCI
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