MIT Engineers Develop Paper-Thin Muscle-Powered Robot for Swimming Through Water
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MIT engineers have created a novel swimming robot powered by a single layer of muscle cells. This innovative design, detailed in a paper published on September 28 in Advanced Functional Materials, features a gel skeleton that resembles the size of a stick of gum, with fins made from the gel and covered in genetically engineered muscle cells.
The significance of this development lies in the ability of the robot to swim efficiently using minimal biological material. The muscle cells, which are thinner than a human hair, are engineered to respond to light, allowing for controlled movement. This advancement could pave the way for more sophisticated biohybrid robots that utilize living cells for propulsion.
Looking ahead, researchers will likely explore further applications of this technology in various fields, including robotics and bioengineering. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
Powered by muscle cells, a paper-thin robot swims through a watery maze
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