“Biohybrid” Robot Allows Fungus to Walk
Cornell University researchers have developed a “biohybrid” robot that moves in response to signals from the nervous system of fungi. By integrating mycelium, the root system of fungi, directly into the robot’s electronics, the team created a system where the fungus naturally senses environmental changes and communicates these via electrical signals, driving the robot’s movement.
Two versions of the biohybrid robot were built: a simple wheeled unit and a spider-shaped robot with soft legs. Both were tested in experiments where they responded to natural signals from the fungus, altered their movements when exposed to ultraviolet light, and could be manually overridden.
This approach leverages nature’s evolved ability to respond to various stimuli, potentially leading to more responsive and autonomous robots in the future. The researchers envision applications like environmental sensing in agriculture, where these robots could optimize fertilizer use based on soil chemistry.