Groundbreaking new technology is enabling patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to control a wheelchair using only their eyes.

This cutting-edge innovation comes from a research team led by Professor Long Yunze at Qingdao University, in collaboration with partner institutions. The team has developed the world's first self-powered eye-tracking system that addresses a key power-supply bottleneck in traditional eye-tracking devices.

Solving the power problem

One of the biggest obstacles facing conventional eye-tracking systems is power supply. Most commercially available devices rely on external power sources, making them bulky and inconvenient to use. For patients attempting to control a wheelchair with traditional eye-tracking equipment, heavy head-mounted devices, tangled power cables, and frequent low-battery warnings often form a formidable barrier to independent mobility.

To address this, Professor Long's team proposed generating power from the eyes.

Self-powered and wearable

The newly developed system adopts a dual-layer design that combines contact-lens-like components with a lightweight eyeglass frame. The result is an ultra-light, highly wearable system that feels no different from ordinary glasses. Most importantly, all the electricity required to operate the system is generated entirely by eye movements, eliminating the need for batteries and achieving true energy self-sufficiency.

"A miniature power plant"

According to Professor Long, the system functions like a "miniature power plant" built directly into the eye interface.

A soft material known as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) adheres to the surface of the eyeball like a contact lens. Acting as a microscopic triboelectric generator, the PDMS continuously produces electric charges through friction whenever the user blinks or moves their eyes.

Meanwhile, glasses with transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes around the lenses serve as a "signal transmission station." Through electrostatic induction, these electrodes detect changes in charge distribution and convert them in real time into electrical signals. These signals are sent via control circuitry to external devices, allowing accurate, responsive control, such as maneuvering a wheelchair.

From the lab to real life

While promising, the technology still faces several challenges before it can be widely adopted.

"We are actively engaging with industry partners to explore collaboration opportunities and accelerate the commercialization process," said Zhang Jun, a core member of the research team and specially appointed professor at the School of Physical Sciences at Qingdao University.

If successfully scaled, this self-powered eye-tracking system could open new possibilities for assistive technology, giving patients greater independence, dignity, and control – all with a blink of one's eye.