Fungi, often mistaken for plants, are a unique kingdom that play a crucial role on Earth. Unlike plants they don’t photosynthesize, instead they absorb nutrients from organic matter which makes them nature’s decomposers. From breaking down dead material to forming symbiotic relationships with plants, fungi are the hidden powerhouse on Earth. They have a fascinating way of communicating with each other through biochemical signals and in some cases they are able to influence the behaviour of other species– like the infamous mind-controlling fungi that manipulate insects.
In August of 2024, researchers at Cornell were trying to create new robots, when they incorporated an unconventional element harvested not from laboratories but from the forest floor, which is the fungal mycelium. By leveraging the natural electrical signals of mycelium, the researchers uncovered a method for controlling “biohybrid” robots. Through growing mycelium into the system of a robot, researchers were able to create biohybrid machines capable of analysing and processing naturally occurring electrical signals which were sent through the mycelium. These robots, which blend biological and synthetic components, have the potential to react to their environment more efficiently than purely synthetic models.
Engineers have drawn inspiration from the animal kingdom when designing robots, often mimicking how living creatures move or regulate their internal temperature through perspiration. However, maintaining these complex biological systems poses significant challenges.
Mushrooms, which are the fruiting bodies of certain fungi, represent just one part of a much larger organism. Fungi also include moulds, yeasts, and an extensive underground network called mycelium. Mycelium consists of fungal threads known as hyphae, which serve as the vegetative part of fungi. These networks can thrive in harsh conditions and have the ability to sense and respond to chemical and biological signals.
Anand Mishra, the lead author of the research paper and a research associate at the Organic Robotics Lab, posed the question, “If you wanted to build future robots, how can they function in unpredictable environments?”. This led to the idea of using living systems from nature. However, integrating mushrooms with robotics remains a complex challenge that requires further research.
Mishra collaborated with a range of interdisciplinary researchers and developed a system to connect mycelium to a robot in a way that lets the robot “listen” to signals from the mycelium. It works by blocking out the vibrations and electrical noise to get clear data from the mycelium. The system is able to read these signals coming from the mycelium, then looks for patterns in the signals and turns that information into instructions the robot can interpret. These instructions are sent to the robot’s moving parts, allowing it to respond based on what the mycelium is “communicating”. This system was inspired by how certain neural circuits in animals create rhythmic movements.
The robots were tested in three experiments. First, the robots moved in response to the natural electrical signals from the mycelium. Then, the researchers used ultraviolet light to stimulate the robots, which caused them to change how they moved, demonstrating how mycelium can react to its surroundings. In the final test, the researchers completely took over the signals controlling the robots.
The researchers aim to show that the impact of their work goes beyond simply advancing robotics or studying fungi. This project is about bridging the gap between technology and living organisms, forming a meaningful connection between the two. By integrating mycelium—a living, responsive system—into robots, they are creating a new type of biohybrid technology where machines and nature interact in harmony. Mishra emphasises that this isn't just about getting a robot to move or follow commands. It's about understanding and utilising the unique properties of living systems, like mycelium, which can sense, react, and adapt to their environment in ways machines cannot and about exploring the potential for living systems to be a part of future technological solutions.
References
Photo for article credits- Frederik van schagen’s “The Mushrooms”
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