A new generation of marine biobots taught to train independently

Scientists have been working for several years to create and improve biohybrid robots or biobots. Usually they

consist of muscle tissue, and their designallows them to crawl, grasp and grasp objects. However, researchers note that modern biobots do not yet resemble natural creatures in terms of mobility and strength.

Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia(IBEC) have made a breakthrough in biobots using bioengineering tools. They applied 3D bioprinting and engineering design to develop biobots up to a centimeter long, capable of swimming at record speeds. They used spontaneous contraction of materials based on muscle cells with a special skeleton.

IBEC Scientists Used Biological Robotsbased on a flexible polymer serpentine spring that was designed and optimized through simulations and then printed. The advantage of this design is that it creates a feedback loop due to the restoring force of the spring.

A new type of artificial muscle is similar to Italian pasta, but much stronger

“We introduced devices consisting of musclecells that move like worms or fish respond to electrical stimuli and apply force and speed through self-training with a 3D printed soft skeleton, ”notes Samuel Sánchez, professor at ICREA Research at IBEC.

Apart from the ability to self-study, newthe device moves 791 times faster than analogs. At the same time, new biobots can perform other movements: get out on the shore and move overland for a long time. Scientists note that in the biomedical field, the ability to print such 3D muscle models using human muscles makes it possible to use such highly functional devices for medical platforms for drug testing.

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