Biorobotics is an offshoot of computational biology, combining engineering and life science to create machines that mimic biological organisms or integrate with living systems to transform mechanics, medicine and beyond. Here, we explore some recent robotics developments that will make all your sci-fi dreams come true, from biohybrid lobster ‘necrobots’ and a bioinspired artificial eye to record-breaking swimming machines propelled by lab-grown muscle. Prepare to be blown away by these awe-inspiring biorobotics breakthroughs. Living-muscle biohybrid robot breaks speed record First up, meet OstraBot, a fast-swimming biohybrid robot replete with self-trained, lab-grown muscles. It’s so fast, in fact, that it outperforms any of its predecessors, according to a new study from scientists at the National University of Singapore. Despite having bags of potential, the development of stronger, faster and more efficient robots powered by living muscle has been held back by the limited force generation of cultured skeletal muscle. “If the actuator is weak, the robot cannot move fast, generate meaningful thrust or perform useful tasks,” explained lead researcher Tan Yu Jun. “The purpose of this study was not just to build a faster robot, but to remove a fundamental bottleneck in the field and open the door to high-performance biohybrid systems designed with sustainability in mind.” To that end, Tan and colleagues designed a platform that allows lab-grown muscle tissues to train themselves by harnessing their robust spontaneous contractions, with no external stimulus required. By mechanically coupling two muscle tissues so they pull against each other, they generated continuous mechanical…
