A team of researchers at Cornell University has successfully developed two types of robots controlled by a living king oyster mushroom, marking a significant breakthrough in biohybrid robotics. This novel approach combines biological materials with synthetic components to create entities that can sense and respond to their environment.
The robots’ hardware was cultivated with the mushroom’s mycelium, a network of threadlike structures that produce electrical signals. By harnessing these signals, the robots were able to navigate and respond to stimuli such as light.
According to senior author Robert Shepherd, this innovation demonstrates the potential of fungi to serve as biological controllers for robotic systems. “Biohybridization is an attempt to find components in the biological world that we can harness, understand, and control to help our artificial systems work better,” he said.
The development of these fungal- controlled robots opens up new possibilities for applications in various fields, including agriculture and environmental monitoring. However, deploying biohybrid robots in natural environments raises ethical considerations, as they blur the lines between life and machine.
As research continues to advance, it is essential to address these ethical challenges and ensure that the development of these technologies aligns with societal values and environmental sustainability.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/science/scientists-create-hybrid-robot-combining-fungus-and-machine-6491127