Researchers at Cornell University have taken a step forward in the field of robotics. robotics by developing biohybrid robots that use fungal mycelia for control. By taking advantage of the natural electrical signals generated by these organisms, the robots are able to react to their environment more effectively than purely synthetic systems.
How do biohybrid robots work?
The team, led by Professor Robert Shepherd, has grown mycelia directly on robot electronics, enabling these biohybrid machines to sense and respond to stimuli such as light. This breakthrough, published in Science Roboticsrepresents a new frontier in the interaction between biology and technology.
The project also has implications beyond robotics, as it offers a new way to connect living systems with machines. This could lead to future applications in areas such as agriculture, where robots could detect changes in soil chemistry and make autonomous decisions to optimize agricultural production.
This interdisciplinary work brought together experts in engineering, biology, and mycology, who collaborated to overcome the challenges of integrating living systems with robotic technology. The biohybrid robots, which include a spider-like model and a wheeled model, demonstrated their ability to respond to natural and modified electrical impulses, suggesting a promising future for this type of technology.
Biohybrid robots reacting to light. Source: Cornell University
What are mycelia?
Mycelia are a fundamental part of fungi. They are networks of fine filaments called hyphae, which extend underground or within other substrates such as wood or decaying organic matter. These networks of hyphae form the vegetative structure of the fungus and are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the environment.
The mycelium is essentially the body of the fungus and they play a crucial role in ecosystems because they decompose organic matter and help recycle nutrients in the soil. In addition, in recent years their potential has been studied in applications such as agriculture, medicine and the production of sustainable biomaterials.
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Source and photo: Cornell University
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