MIT builds a thin swimming robot powered by muscle cells
BROBROK News · Based on reporting by DiarioBitcoin ·
MIT researchers built an aquatic robot on a roughly 0.5 mm gel film and powered it with living muscle cells that react to light. The prototype could swim, turn, and move through a simple maze, though at a modest speed.
Key points
- The robot uses a gelatin methacrylate film with two fins coated in living muscle cells.
- Light flashes on either fin control direction and movement.
- The prototype moved about four body lengths per minute.
- It was able to turn and navigate a simple water maze.
- The design is presented as a thinner alternative to bulky biohybrid robots.
Why it matters
The work shows that a very thin structure can still generate enough force for underwater movement using living tissue. For biohybrid robotics, it points to a more compact design approach, even if the prototype remains experimental.
Original headline: “MIT crea un robot nadador con una película de medio milímetro impulsado por células musculares”
Read the original on DiarioBitcoin
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