Mushroom-controlled robots may sound like a concept straight out of science fiction, but they are now a fascinating reality. At the forefront of this groundbreaking innovation are researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence, who have found a novel way to harness the power of fungi for robotic control. This incredible development could revolutionize the field of robotics, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
The key to these robots lies in the mycelium, the threadlike structures that are a part of fungi. Researchers grew this mycelium into the electronics of two new robots, one shaped like a starfish and another on wheels. The mycelium’s natural response to various environmental stimuli triggered electrical impulses, which powered the movement of these robots.
These mushroom-controlled robots are living systems that respond to different signals, making them a perfect solution for navigating unpredictable environments.
One of the most exciting aspects of the mushroom-controlled robot is its ability to operate in a variety of conditions. The mycelium network is alive, adaptable, and can thrive in diverse environments, which makes it ideal for use in areas where traditional robots might struggle.
Whether in harsh climates, under the sea, or in the soil, these robots can operate effectively, controlled by the fungus’s responses to light, heat, touch, and other inputs.
Anand Mishra, the lead author of the study from Cornell’s Organic Robotics Lab, explained, “Living systems respond to touch, they respond to light, they respond to heat, they respond to even some unknowns, like signals.”
This makes the mushroom-controlled robot an incredibly flexible tool for use in various applications. The robots, powered by mycelium, can walk or roll based on the electrical spikes generated by the fungus.
Here is The Video Of Mushroom-controlled Robot :
This is not just robots on mushroom, this is mushroom roots controlling robots with their electrical signals… Would you raise the fungi, and then use a 24-bit ADC and going thru the EMI shielding hussle to sense ~ 100 uV signal from fungi roots to actuate your robot? (I would) pic.twitter.com/tKwmZ5nhAh
— Outside five sigma (@jwt0625) September 1, 2024
The mushroom-controlled robot was further tested by exposing it to ultraviolet light, which caused the robots to change their movement patterns. The light acted as a stimulant for the mycelium, demonstrating that the fungus could adapt and respond to environmental changes.
According to Rob Shepherd, the study’s senior author, the mycelium’s sensitivity to light was a key factor in these tests. He explained that fungi, such as the king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) used in the study, do not particularly like light.
By adjusting the intensity of the light, the researchers could alter how the mushroom-controlled robot moved, either speeding up or slowing down its progress.
This technology holds immense potential for the future. For example, Shepherd mentioned that in agriculture, mushroom-controlled robots could be used to sense soil chemistry and determine when to add fertilizer, thereby helping reduce harmful environmental impacts like algal blooms.
With the ability to respond to chemical changes, future mushroom-controlled robots could become a vital tool in managing and monitoring crops.
The process of developing the mushroom-controlled robot was not without its challenges. Growing the mycelium and integrating it with the robot’s scaffolding required careful planning. The mycelium was cultivated from king oyster mushrooms, chosen because of their rapid growth and easy cultivation.
It took between 14 to 33 days for the fungus to fully integrate with the robot’s hardware, but once the mycelium was in place, it began generating small electrical signals. These signals were then connected to electrodes that translated the electrical spikes into commands for the robot’s actuators, enabling movement.
However, this integration process wasn’t simple. Mishra pointed out that “You have to make sure that your electrode touches in the right position because the mycelia are very thin. There is not a lot of biomass there.”
The electrical signals from the mycelium are subtle, making it a challenge to detect and use them effectively to control the robot. Yet, once the engineers solved these problems, the results were nothing short of extraordinary.
Fungi, like the king oyster mushroom, have a fascinating ability to sense their environment and communicate through electrical signals, much like neurons in the brain. This makes them a natural choice for controlling robots.
Andrew Adamatzky, a professor of unconventional computing, noted that while it’s not fully understood how fungi generate electrical signals, it is clear that these signals are similar to action potentials found in living cells.
Adamatzky, who wasn’t involved in the Cornell research, praised the potential of the mushroom-controlled robot, noting that fungi-based systems could have wide applications in environmental monitoring.
In particular, mushroom-controlled robots could be instrumental in agriculture and marine exploration. Victoria Webster-Wood from Carnegie Mellon University’s Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group pointed out that fungi-based systems might offer significant advantages over traditional biohybrid approaches.
Fungi are more resilient in harsh environments, making them ideal for biohybrid robots designed to work in challenging settings like the ocean or in soil monitoring.
The study’s success in creating a mushroom-controlled robot without the need for a tether to connect it to external electrical hardware was another major breakthrough.
This “tetherfree” biohybrid robot represents a huge step forward in the field, as achieving true independence from external power sources has been a long-standing challenge in biohybrid robotics.
In the future, mushroom-controlled robots could become a common feature in agriculture, helping farmers monitor soil conditions and optimize fertilizer use.
By using the mushroom’s natural ability to sense and respond to environmental changes, these robots could help reduce the harmful side effects of agricultural practices, like pollution and over-fertilization.
Mushroom-controlled robots could also play a role in monitoring the health of ecosystems. As Andrew Adamatzky explained, the fungus within these robots could react to changes in air quality or pollution levels, guiding the robot to take appropriate action. This technology could be used to monitor fragile environments and help maintain ecological balance.
However, as exciting as these developments are, there are ethical considerations to keep in mind. Rafael Mestre, a lecturer at the University of Southampton, warned that if mushroom-controlled robots become more sophisticated and widespread, their presence in natural ecosystems could disrupt the balance of life.
Introducing these biohybrid robots in large numbers could interfere with the natural trophic chain, raising questions about the long-term impacts of their use in the wild.
For now, the mushroom-controlled robot is still in its early stages of development, but the potential applications are vast. With further research and refinement, these robots could become an integral part of agriculture, environmental monitoring, and even marine exploration.
The ability of fungi to sense and respond to their environment offers a unique opportunity to create robots that are more adaptable and resilient than traditional machines.
In conclusion, the development of mushroom-controlled robots marks a significant milestone in the field of robotics. These innovative machines harness the power of fungi to navigate and respond to their environment, offering new possibilities for agriculture, environmental monitoring, and more.
As researchers continue to explore the potential of mushroom-controlled robots, we may soon see these living systems playing an essential role in managing our world’s most pressing challenges. From improving crop yields to monitoring pollution levels, the future of robotics is beginning to look a lot like fungi.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏