Cornell researchers have pioneered a new method for controlling “biohybrid” robots by harnessing the natural electrical signals of fungal mycelia, the vegetative part of mushrooms.
These robots, which integrate living material into their design, can react to environmental stimuli, potentially improving their autonomy compared to purely synthetic machines. The study, led by Anand Mishra in Cornell’s Organic Robotics Lab, demonstrated that mycelia can drive robots to change their movements in response to light, with potential future applications in sensing soil chemistry for agricultural purposes.
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