Scientists Develop Biohybrid Robots Controlled by Living Fungus
Scientists at Cornell University have made groundbreaking progress in biohybrid robotics by creating two types of robots powered by a living king oyster mushroom. These innovative robots blend biological materials with synthetic components, allowing them to sense and react to their environment, according to a CNN report.
The researchers integrated the mushroom's mycelium—a network of thread-like structures—into the robot's hardware. By utilizing the electrical signals generated by the mycelium, the robots are able to navigate and respond to stimuli such as light. This pioneering approach shows the potential of fungi to function as biological controllers for robotic systems.
"Mechanisms like computing, understanding, and action in response are performed in both the biological world and the artificial systems humans create. Biology often excels in these areas compared to our artificial systems," said Robert Shepherd, a senior author of the study published on August 28 in Science Robotics.
Shepherd, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University and head of the Organic Robotics Lab, further explained, "Biohybridization seeks to identify, understand, and control biological components to enhance the performance of artificial systems."
These fungal-controlled robots could have a wide range of applications, such as in agriculture for monitoring soil conditions and optimizing fertilizer use, and in environmental monitoring for assessing water quality or detecting pollutants.