MIT Researchers Develop Tiny Swimming Robot Powered by Living Muscle Cells
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- ScienceDaily.com
MIT researchers have created a tiny swimming robot that utilizes a single layer of living muscle cells to propel itself through water. This innovative device, detailed in a study published in Advanced Functional Materials, features a flexible gel framework with fins coated in genetically modified muscle cells that contract in response to light. By controlling the light exposure, the team can direct the robot's speed and movement.
The significance of this development lies in its potential to revolutionize biohybrid robotics. Unlike traditional biohybrid robots that rely on bulky, three-dimensional structures made from millions of cells, this new design is thinner and more efficient, which could lower manufacturing costs and enhance movement capabilities. The ability to create robots powered by living muscle tissue opens up possibilities for delicate tasks in environments unsuitable for conventional machines.
The MIT team, including study author Ritu Raman, anticipates that this technology could lead to biohybrid robots capable of performing sensitive operations in unpredictable settings. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
MIT scientists build a tiny robot that swims using living muscle cells
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