MUSHROOMS can power machinery and drive vehicles, exhibiting a human-like sense of direction.
And scientists are eager to see what more they can do.
An international team of researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence put the brainy fungus to the test.
They put a specimen of the variety commonly known as the king oyster mushroom in control of a pair of robots.
One was a four-wheeled rolling vehicle, while the other was a starfish-inspired device that pulsed and twitched across the floor.
So how exactly does a mushroom – incapable of conscious thought – pilot a robot?
The key lies in mycelium, the network of long, branching filaments typically hidden beneath the earth.
These strands weave through the soil in search of resources, and the mycelium of several species boasts transmembrane activity that parallels the signals in our brains.
The researchers stoked the mycelium with UV light to trigger electrical activity in the threads.
Although light is not needed for mycelium growth, it triggers the fruiting phase in mushrooms and the release of signaling molecules.
The researchers applied algorithms based on the extracellular signals, with the output then fed into a microcontroller unit.
Their findings were published last week in the journal Science Robotics – and the scientists believe they have big implications.
“Many biohybrid robots are powered by animal or plant cells, which are sensitive to specific culture procedures and limited to short life spans,” the authors wrote.
“In contrast, fungi can be easily cultured and are robust in extreme conditions.”
Biohybrid robots are entities that are partly living and partly synthetic.
Although such an entity has yet to escape the laboratory setting, there is growing interest in this field.
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Researchers at Caltech, for instance, are engineering biohybrid robotic jellyfish that can explore the ocean in place of humans.
Similarly, scientists have examined ways to use half-living, half-engineered cockroaches that can search through rubble for human survivors.
Beyond innovation in the field of robotics, there is a practical application for the technology.
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The scientists exhibited an ability to harness the mushroom’s impulses and direct them to power machinery.
Similar mechanisms can be developed to respond to shifting environmental cues, delivering nutrients or pesticides to soil.
Such a detection system could respond to rising levels of pollutants or even react to changes in our bodies.
Biohybrid robots: an overview
Biohybrid robots blend biological and artificial systems, such as living tissues with robotics, to create machines that leverage the strengths of both worlds.
These robots aim to combine the adaptability and efficiency of biological systems with the precision and functionality of robotic systems.
Some biohybrids use living components like muscle cells, to control or power robotic elements. For instance, researchers have developed robots with muscle tissue that can contract and move in response to electrical stimuli, enabling more natural and flexible movements.
Another approach involves creating interfaces between biological tissues and synthetic components, such as sensors or actuators. This allows the robot to harness biological signals or reactions to control its actions.
Other biohybrid robots are designed to mimic biological organisms. They may use principles observed in nature, like the way a jellyfish propels itself, to create more efficient or adaptable robotic systems.
Applications of biohybrid robots are diverse, ranging from medical devices and prosthetics to environmental monitoring and exploration.
Biohybrids can be used to create more lifelike prosthetics that better integrate with human tissue or to develop robots that can navigate delicate environments with greater dexterity.
