MIT Engineers Create Biohybrid Robot Using Living Muscle Tissue for Locomotion

Engineers at MIT have developed a paper-thin, soft robot that can swim and steer using a single layer of living muscle tissue. This biohybrid device, roughly the size of a stick of gum, is propelled by genetically engineered muscle cells that contract when exposed to light. This innovation represents the first 2D biohybrid robot capable of locomotion, potentially leading to new self-healing robots for environmental monitoring and exploring delicate ecosystems.