“Mind‑Controlled Robotics”: Russian Scientists Prepare a Breakthrough for Low‑Earth Orbit

One of the Most Ambitious Projects to Date

In 2025, the Artificial Intelligence Research Center at Moscow State University (MSU) announced one of the most ambitious initiatives in modern Russian science: a system enabling astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to control robotic manipulators using brain–computer interfaces (BCIs).

Supported by a grant of approximately about $7.4m under the national program “Data Economy and Government Digital Transformation,” the project aims not only to ease astronauts’ daily workload, but also to position Russia at the forefront of the global race in space‑technology innovation.

The concept is straightforward: astronauts would guide robotic systems using thought‑driven commands processed by artificial intelligence.

How the Technology Works

At the core of the system are noninvasive neuro‑headsets—or, potentially, implantable fiber‑optic devices—capable of detecting electrical activity in the cerebral cortex. AI algorithms translate these neural signals into operational commands for robotic systems.

“In the future, artificial intelligence technologies will help astronauts control certain processes on the ISS not only by voice, but also by thought. The signal may be transmitted either through a neuro‑headset that reads electrical activity in the cerebral cortex or via an implanted chip or fiber‑optic element. Once received, the system can issue commands to a robotic manipulator, for example.”

Grigory Bokov

Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research Center at Moscow State University

The approach is designed to automate routine or physically demanding ISS tasks, from equipment servicing to scientific data collection, reducing strain on astronauts and boosting the efficiency of orbital missions.

A Global Context for a Rapidly Advancing Field

Mind‑controlled systems are no longer speculative. In January 2024, the U.S. company Neuralink implanted a neural chip in a human, enabling cursor control through thought. Even earlier, in 2021, a macaque demonstrated the ability to control a computer using a similar implant. Academic laboratories have also prototyped BCIs in which a single operator can manage swarms of robots.

Russia has been active in neurotechnology research for years. As early as 2017, scientists at the Kurchatov Institute and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology developed hybrid “eye–brain–computer” interfaces for robotic control. The MSU project is therefore not an isolated experiment, but the next logical step in an established global and domestic research trajectory.

Why This Matters for Russia

For Russia, the technology carries strategic weight. It strengthens technological sovereignty by relying on domestic AI systems, neurotechnology, and space‑hardware components. It also holds export potential: BCI–AI systems could be applied not only in space, but also in medicine, industrial automation, and energy.

The initiative also stimulates talent and infrastructure growth. MSU’s AI Center, powered by the “MSU‑270” supercomputer, could become the nucleus of an ecosystem of startups, research laboratories, and educational programs dedicated to neurotechnology.

The Road Ahead

Despite its promise, the path forward is complex. Engineers must minimize signal‑processing latency, ensure high‑accuracy intent recognition, and safeguard system stability under conditions of microgravity and radiation. The use of implantable devices raises ethical and medical questions that will require new regulatory frameworks.

If development proceeds on schedule, early pilot trials could begin on the ISS—or on terrestrial station analogs—within three to five years. A successful demonstration would signal to the world that Russia remains an active force in shaping a future where humans and intelligent machines work as a unified system.