A team of engineers from Cornell University and Florence University has developed a biohybrid robot that utilizes electrical signals from the king trumpet mushroom. This innovative robotic system can move and sense its environment using the living fungi as its control mechanism. By leveraging the responsive characteristics of living organisms, the robot could adapt to various inputs such as light and heat. This advancement in biohybrid robotics may lead to applications in environmental monitoring, aiding agriculture by sensing soil chemistry. The research underscores a potential shift towards integrating living systems into robotic designs for enhanced functionality.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mushroom-controlled robot created | Living organisms in robotic systems | Robots more adaptable to environments | Desire for more responsive, autonomous machines |
| Biohybrid robots emerging | Traditional robots to biohybrid models | Integration of biology in technology | Advancements in interdisciplinary research |
| Enhanced sensing capabilities | Limited robot sensing to dynamic input | Robots that can instinctively respond | Need for precision in environmental monitoring |
| Improved agricultural robotics | Reactive machines to intelligent systems | Smart robots managing soil health | Urgency to improve sustainability in farming |
| Advances in living systems | Static robots to dynamic biohybrids | Organic growth in robotics | Exploration of new materials and systems |