Imagine a world where mushrooms could guide machines, turning their silent, subterranean networks into a force for movement and decision-making. A study by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence has brought this vision one step closer to reality. By harnessing the natural electrical activity of Pleurotus eryngii, commonly known as the king oyster mushroom, scientists have successfully created a biohybrid system where fungi control robotic movements.
Real-time demonstration of a mycelium signal-controlled wheeled robot. (Robert Shepherd)
Fungi: The Untapped Frontier of Cybernetics
In a series of innovative experiments, the research team cultivated the mycelium of Pleurotus eryngii directly into the electronics of robotic devices. These mushrooms, known for their resilience and adaptability, displayed electrophysiological activity—natural spikes of electrical signals—that could be used to interpret environmental stimuli. By connecting these signals to a microcontroller, the team managed to convert the fungal responses into mechanical actions.
"By integrating mycelium into a robot’s electronics, we enabled the biohybrid machine to sense and react to its surroundings," explains Rob Shepherd, a materials scientist at Cornell University and senior researcher on the project.
While the idea of merging biology with robotics isn't new, fungi have remained an underexplored resource in this field. The Fungi kingdom, with its remarkable ability to survive in challenging environments, offers an exciting new avenue for developing robust, living components that could revolutionize sensory and computational technologies.
The mycelial networks of fungi, often hidden beneath the soil, are highly responsive to environmental changes, making them ideal candidates for this kind of research. Certain fungi, like Pleurotus eryngii, even exhibit electrical activity reminiscent of neural responses, opening the door to new ways of 'listening' to these organisms and translating their signals into actionable data.
From Fungal Signals to Robotic Movements
In the lab, the researchers used these fungal signals to control the movements of two different types of robots: a soft, five-limbed robot and a four-wheeled vehicle. The mycelium’s electrical activity, triggered by stimuli such as UV light, was processed by algorithms that directed the robots’ movements.
This approach allowed the team to not only observe but also manipulate the fungi’s natural impulses, demonstrating that the system could be tuned to meet specific goals. The researchers were able to override the inherent responses of the fungi, guiding the robots in a way that highlights the potential for more sophisticated applications.
"This project isn’t just about robot control," says Anand Mishra, a bioroboticist at Cornell. "It’s about forming a true connection with a living system. By interpreting the signals from the fungus, we can understand the stresses or conditions it’s responding to. The robot essentially becomes a visualization tool for these invisible signals."
A Glimpse Into the Future
While the current 'roboshroom' may appear rudimentary, the implications of this research are profound. In the future, similar biohybrid systems could be developed to perform a range of tasks—from delivering precise amounts of nutrients or pesticides in agriculture to detecting pollutants or monitoring changes in human health.
There’s a deeper understanding to be gained from these fungal networks, one that could unlock new ways of interacting with our environment and even our bodies. As we continue to explore this frontier, mushrooms might not only tell us what they're 'dreaming' but also guide us in making those dreams a reality.
This research has been published in Science Robotics.
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