The Bio-robot is here! Robot driven by skeletal muscle cells

Researchers at the University of Illinois in the United States have announced that they have developed skeletal muscle cells in the laboratory to walk in miniature robots. The robot is made up of biological and mechanical parts, controlled by electricity and propelled by muscular expansion.

In the 2012, researchers used mouse heart cells to develop similar biochemical robots, but heart cells contracted too often, and micro-robots were less controlled. This time they switched to the more active human skeleton cells, the robot has a better controllability.

The researchers said they would continue experimenting with biochemical robots, such as testing other cell-rearing robots, and studying how to use different light signals or chemical gradients to control the way the robot moves.

Theoretically, the technology is well suited for biochemical machinery, and researchers are also studying how to use the technology to develop medical and environmental equipment.