What? A biohybrid robot!
Imagine robots that are part machines and part living creatures! That’s what biohybrid robots are. These cool robots mix living parts with technology, like electronics and machines.
Scientists at Cornell University in the USA have made two awesome biohybrid robots. One rolls around on wheels, and the other is a soft-bodied robot. And guess what? They are controlled by a real mushroom called a king oyster mushroom!
These robots can sense and react to what’s happening around them.
How did they create the robot?
Cornell University researchers created the robots by integrating the king oyster mushroom's mycelium, or rootlike threads, into the robot’s hardware.
The mushroom’s root-like threads help the robots sense and respond to their surroundings. It’s like the robots have a mushroom brain!
The scientists grew the mushroom in their lab and used its mycelium to move the robots. The mycelium sends tiny electrical signals, just like our brains do. At first, getting the robots to respond was tricky, but the scientists figured it out!
Now, these robots can walk and roll around. They can even change direction when they see ultraviolet light. Isn’t that fascinating?
Future of such robots.
These special robots are still being tested in labs, but one day, they could do amazing things!
Imagine a robot jellyfish swimming in the ocean to help scientists learn about the deep sea. Or a robot cockroach crawling through tiny spaces to find people after an earthquake.
These robots might sound like something from a storybook, but they could become real helpers soon!
