A notable advance in the integration of robots to our world was achieved by a team of scientists who created a unique fungus-based substance capable of acting as a kind of skin for machines.
This biodegradable coating has the potential to revolutionize the way robots perceive and interact with the environment around them. See more about the invention!
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How fungus skin works
(Photo: Antoni Gandia and Andrew Adamatzky/Reproduction)
Despite notable advances in recent years, the robotics industry faces difficulties regarding the coating of machines. The challenge is to find an economical and environmentally friendly alternative.
The use of traditional silicon-based sensors has been a barrier to large-scale production of robots due to complexity and environmental impact.
Fungus skin, in turn, offers a different solution, being not only more environmentally friendly, but also opening up new possibilities for robot performance.
The scientists behind this discovery, Antoni Gandia of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, and Andrew Adamatzky of the University of the West of England described his creation as an “entity biocybernetics.”
Using a fungus known as Ganoderma sessile, which can thrive in a variety of conditions, they were able to apply it to a small robot just 18 centimeters tall.
Over a five-day period in an incubator, the fungal skin grew into a protective layer similar to human skin.
This layer was demonstrated to be sensitive to light and touch when electrodes were implanted, giving the robot better environmental perception capabilities.
Life imitates art
Antoni Gandia mentioned that the inspiration for the research came from an iconic scene in the film “Terminator“, from 1984, in which a robot's skin is capable of reporting data and self-repairing.
Scientists believe that such innovation could open doors to the creation of futuristic sensors, with potential applications in various industries, including robotics.
Additionally, fungus skin can be used in buildings to provide temperature information and regulate the indoor climate of buildings.
In this way, it has the potential to make buildings more energy efficient and improve the comfort of the people who live and work in them.
The scientists involved in its creation are unanimous in saying that the use of this skin for robots represents a advancement in machine integration and opens new perspectives for robotics and future applications in other areas.
