The world's first race of aerial drones controlled by human brains held recently at the University of Florida could also represent one giant leap for mind-controlled weapons and a leap backwards for humans.

The "Brain Drone Race" tested a technology called the Brain Computer Interface or BCI that allows humans to control and move machines using their thoughts. Applications for this startling technology include restoring the power to walk by outfitting paralyzed persons with brain-controlled arms or legs.

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Also called a mind-machine interface (MMI), a BCI is a direct communication link between a brain "wired" to a device such as an electroencephalogram headset and an external device such as an aerial drone. BCIs are now sometimes used to augment or repair human sensory-motor functions. The technology, however, also has military applications.

In 2012, the Royal Society, the United Kingdom's preeminent academy of science, reported that the rapid advance of neuroscience also has enormous security uses that should be carefully studied. It said BMIs can connect human brains directly to military technologies, including drones and other weapons systems that can inflict harm on humans.

The report further noted the human brain can process images such as targets a lot faster than the subject is consciously aware of. As a result a "neurally interfaced weapons system could provide significant advantages over other system control methods in terms of speed and accuracy."

The aerial drone race at the University of Florida saw 16 participants use their brain power magnified by BCI headsets to fly drones across a 10 yard indoor basketball court. Accomplishing this was no mean feat since the concentration required to fly the drones is immense.

For the race, the EEG headsets were calibrated to determine which electrical activity was linked with specific thoughts in the brain. Programmers then wrote computer codes that transformed these signals into commands the computer sent to the aerial drones.

Experts said that the drone race confirmed the progress in BCI is a lot faster than it was a decade ago. Other researchers said they wanted to explore how mind-controlled devices can alter the way people work and live.

TagsBrain drone race, Mind-controlled weapons, University of Florida, brain controlled interface