The Mushroom Revolution: Biohybrid Robots in Action

How Does Mycelium Power Robots?

In the experiment, scientists grew king oyster mushroom mycelia on a 3D-printed scaffold embedded with electrodes. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, the mycelium generated electrical signals that controlled a starfish-shaped robot's legs, making it stand. This is because the mycelium powers the robot’s movement in response to the light stimulus. Watch it in action here.

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Why Are These Mycelium-Powered Robots Needed?

Traditional passive sensors in robotics are designed for specific energy types, limiting their use in unpredictable environments. For instance, an optical sensor relying on sunlight won’t work well in low light or at night.

Mycelia, on the other hand, creates an active network of electrical signals that can respond to light, heat, and other stimuli. This adaptability makes them ideal for robotics in dynamic and diverse situations. Some use cases include:

• Agriculture: Detect chemical contaminants, pathogens, and poisons.
• Hazardous Environments: Survive radiation to monitor extreme conditions.
• Disaster Recovery: Sense CO2 or decay to find survivors in the rubble.
• Waste Management: Break down waste or detect toxins in landfills.
• Space Exploration: Detect life or manage resources on other planets.
• Environmental Monitoring: Track soil and water pollutants for cleanup.
• Healthcare: Detect pathogens or resistant bacteria in hospitals.

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The Role of Fungi in Sustainable Robotic Innovation

While other living materials, like plant roots, have proven difficult to keep healthy and functional in robotic systems, mycelia have proven to be much more resilient. This makes them a promising solution for incorporating living materials into robotics, bringing us one step closer to creating adaptable, sustainable robots for a wide range of applications.

One of the most exciting aspects of biohybrid robots is their sustainability. By using biological materials like fungi, these robots reduce the environmental waste typically associated with traditional robots made from plastics and metals. A small amount can be used to grow these systems anywhere on this planet and even in outer space. Mycelium’s resilience and low maintenance make it an ideal material for sustainable futuristic innovation.

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