Biohybrid Robots: Mushroom-Powered Electrical Control

By tapping into the natural electrical signals of mycelia, researchers have uncovered a groundbreaking method for controlling biohybrid robots that could potentially outperform their fully synthetic counterparts in adapting to their surroundings.

The team's study, titled "Sensorimotor Control of Robots Mediated by Electrophysiological Measurements of Fungal Mycelia," was recently published in Science Robotics. Anand Mishra, a research associate at the Organic Robotics Lab under the guidance of Professor Rob Shepherd from Cornell Engineering, serves as the lead author of the paper.

Professor Shepherd expressed his enthusiasm for the research, stating, "This paper marks the beginning of a series of studies that will utilize the fungal kingdom to enhance robots' autonomy by providing environmental sensing and command signals. By integrating mycelium into the robot's electronics, we enabled the biohybrid machine to detect and react to its surroundings. While light was the initial input in this study, future applications could involve chemical signals, potentially revolutionizing tasks like monitoring soil chemistry in agriculture to prevent issues like harmful algal blooms."

In the quest to develop advanced robots, engineers have often drawn inspiration from the animal kingdom, creating machines that mirror the movement, environmental awareness, and self-regulation mechanisms found in living organisms. While some robots have integrated living components, such as muscle tissue cells, maintaining the health and functionality of these complex biological systems poses significant challenges. Keeping a robot "alive" is no simple feat.

Mycelia, the underground network of fungi that supports mushroom growth, offer a range of benefits for biohybrid robots. These structures thrive in harsh environments and possess the remarkable ability to detect and respond to various chemical and biological cues.

Anand Mishra elaborated on the advantages of incorporating living systems into robotics, stating, "Unlike passive synthetic sensors that serve a single purpose, living systems exhibit responsiveness to touch, light, heat, and even unknown stimuli. This adaptability is crucial for robots operating in unpredictable environments. By harnessing the capabilities of living organisms, future robots can effectively respond to unforeseen challenges."