Researchers in China have unveiled a groundbreaking device that uses energy generated by blinking to help paralysed individuals control equipment such as wheelchairs, potentially revolutionising assistive technology.

The self-powered eye-tracking system, called ET-TENG, was developed by teams from Qingdao University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It harnesses a nanogenerator to capture tiny friction between the eyelid and eyeball during a blink, converting it into energy to power the sensor without the need for external batteries.

According to the study published this month in Cell Reports Physical Science, ET-TENG can detect eyeball deflections as small as two degrees with 99% accuracy and operates effectively in total darkness—a major advantage over traditional camera-based trackers that rely on external light sources.

The system offers hope for individuals with conditions like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), allowing them to operate computers or wheelchairs using just their eye movements. Beyond medical applications, the researchers envision the technology being used in space exploration for hands-free control panels, smart vehicles to monitor driver fatigue, and energy-efficient virtual reality headsets.

The team highlighted ET-TENG’s high sensitivity, simple design, and strong resistance to interference as key features that could expand the scope of human-computer interaction technologies.