Paralyzed Man in China Controls a Robot Dog with His Mind and Lands a Paid Job - Just 5 Days After Brain Chip Surgery

In a milestone moment for neuroscience and assistive technology, a 28-year-old man in China has regained a measure of autonomy most thought only possible in science fiction — controlling robotic devices with nothing but his thoughts — and has even secured paid work using his new abilities. The achievement comes just days after surgeons implanted a cutting-edge brain-computer interface (BCI), marking one of the fastest real-world demonstrations of such technology to date. �
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A Life Changed by Innovation
The man, identified in press reports as Mr. Zhang, suffered a high-level spinal cord injury in 2022 that left him paralyzed from the neck down, limiting voluntary movement to only his head and neck. For more than three years, conventional rehabilitation offered little improvement. In June this year, Zhang elected to participate in a clinical trial for a novel neural implant system at Huashan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai. �
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The device — known as the WRS01 brain-computer interface — was developed as part of China’s first clinical trial of a fully implanted, fully wireless BCI system. The breakthrough lies not only in its minimal invasiveness but also its clinical readiness: tiny electrodes, each about 1 % the width of a human hair, were surgically placed into regions of Zhang’s brain associated with movement intention, while processing hardware and power systems were embedded under the skin. �
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Remarkably, within five days of surgery, Zhang demonstrated the ability to control digital devices using only his thoughts — including browsing the internet, operating smart home appliances, and steering a wheelchair. �
Daily Times
From Thought to Action — and a Paid Job
What sets Zhang’s case apart from earlier brain-computer interface breakthroughs is not just technical ability but practical daily life integration. Through thought-control of a computer cursor, he began performing tasks in a remote job capacity. According to reports, Zhang is now working as an intern sorter, using his brain-controlled interface to verify product dispensing from vending machines and sort items as part of his job duties. This makes him the first known BCI trial participant to engage in paid employment using mind-driven control alone. �
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Zhang described the opportunity as a “valuable chance” to contribute meaningfully again after years of physical limitation. Although he notes the role is “a bit difficult,” he emphasizes that it represents a major step toward independence and purpose in his daily life. �
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Robots, Wheelchairs, and Real-World Use
Beyond screen-based work, the BCI’s capabilities extend into the physical world. Zhang can operate a smart wheelchair that responds to thought inputs and can navigate even challenging environments like staircases with assisted control. He also can direct a robot dog — a quadruped machine that fetches items such as takeaway food — adding a level of autonomous mobility and assistance never before realized so soon after implantation. �
Interesting Engineering
Chinese researchers have branded this demonstration a significant leap beyond laboratory tests, showing stable control across both digital and robotic systems. Officials involved in the trial express hope that continued development of neural decoding algorithms and integration with other smart devices will further expand the technology’s practical applications. �
Yicai Global
A Glimpse of the Brain-Computer Future
While brain-computer interfaces have been in research for decades, real-world applications have often remained limited to cursor control or simple tasks. Zhang’s case — combining wireless implantation, rapid postoperative function, control of multiple robotic peripherals, and even paid employment — is a striking showcase of how quickly the field is advancing. �
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Comparisons are already being made to high-profile BCI research overseas. Companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink have also pursued invasive neural implants in clinical trials, enabling patients to interact with technology through thought, though many such efforts remain in early stages of practical demonstration. �
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Beyond the Headlines: What This Means
For people living with paralysis and severe motor impairments around the world, breakthroughs like Zhang’s offer more than just technological novelty — they represent hope for regained agency and meaningful participation in society. By bridging neural intent with external machines, cutting-edge BCIs are redefining what independence can look like for individuals long denied it by injury. �
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Ethical and regulatory questions remain about long-term safety, accessibility, and equity in the deployment of such technologies. Yet for Zhang, the ability to work, to move, and to interact beyond the constraints of paralysis shows that the era of brain-driven machines may be arriving sooner than many expected. �
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