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Case Western Reserve University's Bot Uses Muscles from a Sea Slug
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have built a biohybrid robot, or a robot that incorporates biological material in order to function -- similar to cyborgs that populate the pages and screens of science fiction works. The researchers' bot uses muscles from the mouth of a sea slug to provide locomotion, while those muscles are attached to a 3D-printed frame that acts as an exoskeleton. When electric currents are alternately activated and deactivated in the organic muscle tissue, the robots "arms" flex and release in a crawling motion.
To be sure, the movement is very rudimentary. Crawling along the ground, the biohybrid robots move like sea turtles -- albeit at only 0.43 centimeters per minute. The benefit of later versions of these bots, though, is that the energy needed for movement is far lower than with a fully battery-powered equivalent.
Using biohybrid robotic technology, scientists can take robots farther than their predecessors.
To be sure, the movement is very rudimentary. Crawling along the ground, the biohybrid robots move like sea turtles -- albeit at only 0.43 centimeters per minute. The benefit of later versions of these bots, though, is that the energy needed for movement is far lower than with a fully battery-powered equivalent.
Using biohybrid robotic technology, scientists can take robots farther than their predecessors.
