Cornell researchers have developed a pair of biohybrid robots that integrate fungal mycelia to improve their ability to sense and respond to the environment. These robots use mycelia’s electrical signals to control movement, offering a more dynamic interaction with their surroundings than traditional synthetic robots. The research, led by Anand Mishra and Rob Shepherd, was published in Science Robotics.
Mycelia, the underground vegetative network of mushrooms, has unique advantages for robotics. Unlike traditional sensors, mycelia can respond to multiple inputs like light, heat, and touch, making it a valuable asset in designing robots for unpredictable environments. The mycelium acts as a sensor and a control mechanism, enabling robots to adapt to stimuli.
The team built two robots: a spider-shaped soft robot and a wheeled bot. In experiments, the robots responded to mycelia’s natural electrical signals, changed their movements when exposed to ultraviolet light, and could even have their mycelial signals overridden by the researchers.
This interdisciplinary research combined mechanical engineering, mycology, neurobiology, and signal processing. Mishra collaborated with experts to develop an electrical interface that reads and processes mycelia’s electrophysiological signals. These signals were then converted into digital controls for the robots’ movement.
The findings advance the biohybrid robotics field and provide insights into the potential for robots that can connect and communicate with living systems. The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture supported the research.
Full Story here: Biohybrid robots controlled by electrical impulses — in mushrooms | Cornell Chronicle
