Engineers Gave a Mushroom a Robot Body and Let It Run Wild
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence created a biohybrid system integrating the mushroom Pleurotus eryngii with robotics, enabling it to control vehicles through environmental stimuli, enhancing technology connections.
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Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence have developed a biohybrid system by integrating the edible mushroom species Pleurotus eryngii with robotic technology. This innovative project allows the mushroom's mycelial network to control the movements of two types of vehicles by translating its electrophysiological signals into mechanical actions. The team demonstrated that the mushroom could respond to environmental stimuli, such as UV light, to influence the behavior of a five-limbed soft robot and a four-wheeled vehicle. This research highlights the potential of fungi in cybernetic applications, as they can survive in challenging conditions and possess sensory capabilities similar to neural responses in animals. The project aims to create a deeper connection between living systems and technology, potentially leading to applications in agriculture, such as precise nutrient delivery or environmental monitoring. The findings suggest that mushrooms may offer insights into their own biological processes, paving the way for future advancements in biohybrid systems.
- Researchers integrated a mushroom with robotic technology to create a biohybrid system.
- The mushroom's mycelial network can control vehicle movements based on environmental stimuli.
- This project explores the potential of fungi in cybernetic applications and environmental monitoring.
- The research aims to enhance the connection between living systems and technology.
- Future applications may include precision agriculture and insights into fungal biology.
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2 commentsWhatever that contraption is, it isn't running wild, and it isn't even exhibiting anything that resembles what we normally think of a "running". The jerking of its limbs that we see is just an oscillation (and apparently a very chaotic one) that seems to be biased towards movement in a certain direction.
That's all. This thing isn't "running" in any meaningful sense.
Anyone have a sense for what’s happening?
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