Revolutionizing Robotics: Japanese Researchers Engineer Two-Legged Biohybrid Robot Inspired by Human Gait
In the quest to emulate the flexibility and precision of human movement, Japanese researchers have developed a groundbreaking two-legged biohybrid robot. The innovation, detailed in the journal Matter on January 26, combines muscle tissues with artificial materials, allowing the robot to walk, pivot, and achieve fine-tuned motions. Lead author Shoji Takeuchi from the University of Tokyo emphasizes the potential of using muscle as actuators for creating compact robots with efficient, silent movements. The team’s approach involves mimicking human gait, utilizing lab-grown skeletal muscle tissues, and integrating silicone rubber for flexibility. The biohybrid robot successfully demonstrated walking, stopping, and making precise turns, marking significant progress in the field of biohybrid robotics. While manual electrode movement currently dictates electric field application, the team aims to enhance speed efficiency by integrating electrodes into the robot in the future. Future plans involve introducing joints and thicker muscle tissues for more sophisticated movements, with a focus on developing a nutrient supply system for sustained operation in the air. The researchers celebrate these strides as monumental achievements for biohybrid robots, acknowledging support from JST-Mirai Program, JST Fusion Oriented Research for disruptive Science and Technology, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
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