Scientists use stem cells from frogs to build first living robots

The Guardian ^ | 01/13/2020 | Ian Sample

[BenLurkin]

Researchers in the US have created the first living machines by assembling cells from African clawed frogs into tiny robots that move around under their own steam.

One of the most successful creations has two stumpy legs that propel it along on its “chest”. Another has a hole in the middle that researchers turned into a pouch so it could shimmy around with miniature payloads.

Roboticists tend to favour metal and plastic for their strength and durability, but Levin and his colleagues see benefits in making robots from biological tissues. When damaged, living robots can heal their wounds, and once their task is done they fall apart, just as natural organisms decay when they die.

The robots, which are less than 1mm long, are designed by an “evolutionary algorithm” that runs on a supercomputer. The program starts by generating random 3D configurations of 500 to 1,000 skin and heart cells. Each design is then tested in a virtual environment, to see, for example, how far it moves when the heart cells are set beating. The best performers are used to spawn more designs, which themselves are then put through their paces.

[Wuli]

Kindergarten children playing engineers in their sandbox. At least they know they are pretending.

[Army Air Corps]

So, a perfect Democrat presidential candidate.

[I want the USA back]

It’s a robot, or it’s a living organism. Pick one.

[SunkenCiv]

Danny and the Juniors - At the Hop