MIT bio-inspired robotics development

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have advanced bio-inspired robotic designs. Initial developments include a lightweight, 300-gram robot capable of transitioning between flying and diving by mimicking the mechanics of birds like gulls.

Subsequent research at MIT focused on miniature biohybrid swimming robots. These two-dimensional devices, roughly the size of a stick of gum, utilize a single layer of living muscle tissue thinner than a human hair to power movement. By using light stimulation to trigger contractions in genetically modified cells, researchers can control the speed and steering of these robots as they navigate underwater environments.

Recent advancements published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials detail a prototype using a flexible, two-dimensional gel framework approximately half a millimeter thick. Unlike traditional biohybrid robots that require bulky, three-dimensional skeletal muscle structures, these fin-like devices use a thin layer of muscle cells to achieve propulsion. In laboratory tests, the robots successfully navigated an underwater maze, reaching speeds of approximately four times their own length per minute. This technology offers a potentially more cost-effective and efficient alternative to mechanical motors, providing advantages such as flexibility, responsiveness, and the potential for self-regeneration in delicate or unpredictable environments.