Robots in their current form contribute more to our modern lives than you might think. They may not be the sci-fi androids most people imagine, but they’re hard at work, whether it’s building cars or learning how to control nuclear fusion. (opens in new tab)It’s only recently that we’re starting to see the kind of robots we imagined as kids, such as the Boston Dynamics productions doing all sorts of crazy stunts. (opens in new tab) like dancing (opens in new tab) Or defend Pompeii (opens in new tab).
Robotics turns out to be more than just metal machines, and biohybrid robots could also be part of the cyberpunk future. It’s only been a few days since I was introduced to OSCAR (opens in new tab)While these videos are wonderfully vivid, it’s a good time to see a bio-hybrid robot in action and use a palette cleanser.
reverse (opens in new tab) A team of researchers reports successfully implementing a new design for such a biohybrid bot. The robot uses a mix of artificial and biological parts, in this case for walking. That said, it’s not as quick or dramatic as we’ve seen with a fully artificial Boston bot.
This biohybrid uses mouse muscle cells combined with a 3D printed soft scaffold and a wireless LED chip. The light emitted by the LED stimulates the tissue of the mouse, which in turn moves the scaffold. The 3D-printed soft material is important here, as these jerks are designed to propel the robot forward at about 0.83 millimeters per second.
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It’s a very slow, very creepy mechanical meat move, but it happens to be the fastest speed a biohybrid robot has ever achieved. You can also use and move objects, go through mazes, and use interchangeable tools. Plus, it’s all wireless without an onboard power supply and looks a lot tastier than our friend OSCAR.
Biohybrid technology is a more recent development compared to traditional robotics, so we can’t expect it to keep up with more mechanical builds. It has potential advantages, such as an intuitive response to sexual objects. Biohybrids may even breed, which I’m sure is potentially useful, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been quietly thinking about it all day in terror.
Considering how new these robots are, there is still a lot of work to be done. Making these machines run a little faster, have more control and generally improve is clearly in the cards. Giving. Yeah.
If you want to learn more about this scary idea, check out the full research paper below. science robotics (opens in new tab).
