Researchers put mushrooms in control of tiny vehicles for groundbreaking study
Mushrooms control tiny vehicles using electrophysiological activity, showing potential for future biohybrid robots.
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence have revealed that king oyster mushrooms can control tiny vehicles through their mycelia network's electrophysiological activity. The experiment used inputs like ultraviolet light to trigger the mushroom's electrical impulses, converting them into digital commands to drive mechanical systems.
Anand Mishra, a research associate at Cornell's Organic Robotics Lab, explained that living systems can respond to various stimuli, including touch, light, and heat. The team demonstrated the mushroom's ability to control a small four-wheeled vehicle, emphasizing that this ability could have real-world applications in future robotic systems.
Published in Science Robotics, the research shows potential for biohybrid robots capable of sensing environmental changes. Potential applications include robots that monitor soil chemistry in agriculture or devices that react to changes in human bodies.