Company Interview / Control Bionics targets sports and rehab with Apple BCI

Key points:

Control Bionics integrates Apple BCI protocol with non-invasive technologyNeuroNode offers device control via muscle signals, expanding user interaction possibilitiesNeuroStrip launches with a subscription-based software modelR&D investment supports leadership in surface electromyography

Control Bionics (ASX:CBL) secures a notable lead in assistive technology by integrating Apple’s new Brain Computer Interface (BCI) protocol. Jeremy Steele states Control Bionics is now the only company with a commercially available product leveraging Apple’s BCI technology, positioning Australian innovation at the forefront of global advancements. Steele describes the solution as non-invasive and approved by regulators including the FDA, TGA and CE. Unlike invasive options from companies such as Neuralink, the Control Bionics device, called NeuroNode, sits on the skin and utilises physiological signals to enable users to control Apple devices with muscular movement.

Steele frames this development as transformational, extending beyond the assistive market into sports performance, rehabilitation and broader potential use cases. He expects the technology to change how individuals interact with electronics, enabling direct device control through muscle intent. Steele highlights reducing the lag between thought and device response, with applications in gaming, physiotherapy and professional sports.

Control Bionics' business model for its new product, NeuroStrip, is shifting from equipment sales to a software as a service strategy. Devices retail between $1,000 and $2,000, with software subscriptions priced at $200-$300 per month, offering secure data access and real-time analytics to clients, including athletes and rehabilitation patients. Annual research and development spend sits at $2 to $3 million.