A Student’s Journey Into Mind-Controlled Assistive Technology
By Communications Team and Grade 10 student, Aarav
14 April 2026
Moving a robotic arm using only the power of thought may sound like science fiction, but for Grade 10 student Aarav, it is a reality he has been developing in the Innovation@East Lab. What began as a classroom inquiry into assistive technology has rapidly evolved, earning him an invitation to the world's largest technology conference, Web Summit, as the youngest speaker.
Technology that can restore independence
It started with a visit to SG Enable, Singapore’s agency supporting people with disabilities, where Aarav met individuals with paralysis and saw firsthand how something as simple as moving an arm could be a daily struggle.
“I knew I wanted to create a solution,” he recalls. That spark led him to Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), technology that lets the brain communicate directly with devices, and ultimately to the goal of controlling an exoskeleton arm through thought.
With the support of the Innovation@East Lab, Aarav built his first working prototype. Using Electroencephalography (EEG) sensors and supervised machine learning, the arm can move in five directions and execute fine finger movements, “like your brain texting the arm directly,” he says. Beyond the technical achievement, Aarav remains focused on impact. “Even a small improvement in independence can open possibilities that were once impossible.”
Aarav’s work earned him a place in a highly selective innovation programme in Tokyo, Japan, run by a private equity investment firm. There, he explored a range of global technology solutions and approaches to innovation. Soon after, his work took him beyond the classroom in an unexpected way.
Sharing student innovation on a global stage
Several months later, Aarav received an email from the Web Summit Speaker Recruitment team, who were interested in his perspective as a young innovator. He was invited to speak at Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, one of the world’s largest technology conferences, with over 70,000 attendees.
Aarav said he was excited and motivated by the invitation, knowing that influential figures such as Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, and Tim Berners-Lee had spoken on the same stage.
During his talk, Aarav showcased his dual passion for assistive technology and sustainability. He focused on his work in brain–computer interfaces, sharing how his exoskeleton arm project uses brain signals to support people living with paralysis. Alongside this, he also introduced Smart Bin AI, his parallel innovation designed to combat food waste using artificial intelligence, demonstrating how student-led technology can address diverse global challenges.
While many speakers at the conference were focused on fundraising or promoting startups, Aarav approached the experience with a different goal. He saw Web Summit as an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from others, and better understand how emerging technologies are applied in real-world contexts.
It was important for me to share my work with a global audience because assistive technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. By presenting my project internationally, I was able to gain feedback from diverse perspectives, raise awareness about the possibilities of BCIs, and learn how similar challenges are being approached across different regions.
Learning beyond the classroom
Networking with industry giants, including the CEOs of Red Bull Racing, Lyft, and Lovable, gave Aarav valuable insight into how innovation is shaped beyond technical development. One piece of feedback stood out: while strong functionality is important, long-term impact depends just as much on usability and user experience.
Since then, Aarav has made a conscious effort to prioritise user interface and user experience alongside technical performance, reshaping how he approaches the next stages of his project.
The experience also opened unexpected opportunities. Following Web Summit, Aarav was invited to appear on Career Ladder, hosted by Max Klymenko, and later to share his work on a podcast hosted by Fidias Panayiotou, Member of the European Parliament. He was also interviewed by international media organisations, including the Associated Press and The Portugal News, who were interested in how a student is using complex technology with the aim of improving lives.
Supported by a culture of exploration
Reflecting on what helped prepare him for the experience, Aarav credits UWCSEA’s holistic learning environment for building his confidence in sharing ideas with diverse audiences. “The Design Technology facilities and Innovation@East Lab allowed me to experiment and transform abstract ideas into real solutions, giving me the confidence to take on ambitious projects and think beyond the classroom,” he says.
Looking ahead, Aarav plans to continue developing his BCI exoskeleton by increasing the degrees of freedom available to users, with the goal of enabling more precise control for everyday tasks.
For Aarav, the project is still very much a work in progress. What has remained constant is his focus on learning, testing ideas, listening to feedback, and improving through iteration. Rooted in an early encounter with people whose everyday challenges inspired his work, he continues to refine his design with care for those it is meant to support, guided by empathy and a belief that technology can play a meaningful role in building a more inclusive future.
Aarav’s commitment to using technology for good extends beyond assistive care. In our next feature, we will explore his work on Smart Bin AI, a mission-aligned project that uses an AI-powered camera to tackle the global crisis of food waste. By analysing discarded meals to identify exactly what is being left uneaten, the system has already helped food providers reduce waste by nearly 20%. The system has already been adopted by UWCSEA East and Dover, the German European School Singapore, as well as UWC Thailand and UWC in Eswatini, with more to come. Stay tuned to learn how this student-led innovation is turning cafeteria data into sustainable action.
