Building a robot requires time, technical expertise, and the right materials – but often, a dash of serendipity.
Researchers at Cornell College recently crafted two innovative robots, incorporating a surprising component: fungal mycelium, sourced from the forest floor. Researchers have discovered a novel approach to control biohybrid robots by leveraging mycelia’s natural electrical responses, enabling these hybrid machines to respond more effectively to their environment than traditional artificial systems.
The group’s paper was finally published in a prestigious academic journal.
Anand Mishra leads the writing as an analytics affiliate in the Natural Robotics Lab, directed by Professor Rob Shepherd, chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University.
According to Shepherd, this research forms the foundation for a plethora of studies that can harness the fungal kingdom’s capabilities to provide environmental sensing and alert systems for robots, ultimately expanding their scope of autonomy. By integrating mycelium into the electronic components of a robot, researchers have successfully enabled the biohybrid device to perceive and respond to its environment. As our current technology develops, we anticipate a shift from mild to chemical methods for a seamless and efficient process. Future robots may have the capability to detect soil chemistry in row crops, thereby enabling targeted fertilizer applications that mitigate potential environmental impacts, such as reducing the likelihood of harmful algal blooms downstream.
Mycelium is the subterranean network of branching, thread-like structures that comprise the vegetative portion of a mushroom. Equipped with the ability to detect chemical and organic signals, these systems possess remarkable flexibility in responding to various stimuli.
Mishra explained that residing methods respond to tactile stimuli, responding equally well to light and warmth; they can also detect unknown phenomena, such as alerts. How can future robots adapt to unexpected environments? We will capitalise on these dwelling methods, and any unrecognised input will be accommodated by the robot, which will respond accordingly.
Two innovative biohybrid robots have been successfully engineered: a soft-bodied robot resembling a spider and a wheeled bot, showcasing the potential of merging biological and robotic systems.
The robots accomplished three experiments. As the mycelia’s signals pulsed steadily, the robots responded by walking or rolling accordingly. The researchers then exposed the robots to ultraviolet light, prompting them to modify their locomotion patterns and showcasing mycelia’s capacity for adaptive responses to environmental stimuli. The scientists were able to commandeer the mycelia’s intrinsic signaling pathway, effectively bypassing its natural control mechanisms.
The study’s findings were bolstered by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Crop Physiology Research and Technology Center, in collaboration with the United States. The Division of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as well as the NSF Soil Sign in program.
