In the development of innovative robots, researchers have incorporated an unexpected component sourced from the forest floor: fungal mycelia. By utilizing the natural electrical signals produced by mycelia, they have created a novel method for managing ‘biohybrid’ robots, which could potentially respond more effectively to their surroundings compared to traditional purely synthetic robots.
Building a robot involves time, expertise, suitable materials — and at times, a bit of fungus.
While designing two new robots, a team from Cornell University tapped into an unusual element found on the forest floor: fungal mycelia. By exploiting the electrical signals inherent to mycelia, they discovered an innovative technique for controlling “biohybrid” robots capable of responding to their environments more adeptly than their completely artificial counterparts.
The research findings were published in Science Robotics, with Anand Mishra serving as the lead author. Mishra is a research associate at the Organic Robotics Lab, which is headed by Rob Shepherd, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University, and he is the senior author of the paper.
“This publication marks the beginning of many future studies that will utilize the fungal kingdom to provide robots with environmental sensing and command signals to enhance their autonomy,” Shepherd explained. “By integrating mycelium within the robot’s electronics, we enabled the biohybrid machine to detect and respond to its surroundings. In this instance, we used light as the stimulus, but later on, it could be chemicals. Future robots might be designed to sense soil chemistry in agricultural fields and determine the optimal moment for applying fertilizers, which could help alleviate environmental issues stemming from farming practices, such as harmful algal blooms.”
Mycelia represent the underground growth structure of mushrooms and are adept at sensing chemical and biological signals while responding to various inputs.
“Living systems react to touch, light, heat, and even unknown cues like signals,” Mishra stated. “When envisioning future robots, how could they function in unpredictable environments? We can utilize these living systems, enabling the robot to react to any unforeseen input.”
Two types of biohybrid robots were developed: a soft, spider-like robot and a wheeled robot.
The researchers conducted three experiments. In the first, the robots moved—walking and rolling—as a consequence of the constant spikes in the mycelia’s signals. Subsequently, when the robots were exposed to ultraviolet light, they adjusted their movements, showcasing mycelia’s ability to interact with their environment. In the final test, the researchers managed to entirely override the mycelia’s original signals.
This research received support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) CROPPS Science and Technology Center, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the NSF Signal in Soil initiative.
