Strange Terminator-style ‘living skin’ grown for robots so they can ‘feel’ – and it’s made from fungus
LIVING skin has been created using fungus and a creepy model of The Terminator.
Scientists inspired by the classic 1984 sci-fi movie created the strange substance in an attempt to create biodegradable skin that would allow robots to experience physical sensations.
In a paper called Fungal Skin for Robots, the researchers describe their creation as “a bio-cybernetic entity.”
The study is yet to be peer-reviewed by a journal but can be found on the Research Square website.
Mycelium technology, which involves the root structure of fungi, was used to create the skin.
The researchers wrote: “This paper explores an experimental endeavour that successfully incorporates living, self-regenerating, and reactive Ganoderma sessile mycelium into a model cyborg figurine, creating a bio-cybernetic entity.
“The mycelium, cultivated using established techniques, was homogeneously grown on the cyborg model’s surface, demonstrating robust reactivity to various stimuli such as light exposure and touch.”
It’s hoped the mycelium technology could be combined with gadgets we have today to create sensitive robots that can detect things like light and touch.
There are electronic sensors that already exist that can detect light, touch, humidity, and changes in temperature.
However, they are usually hard to make and are created using non-biodegradable materials like silicone.
Researchers Antoni Gandia and Andrew Adamatzky say a fungus skin is easier to produce and can better at sensing a wider range of things, according to New Scientist.
Gandia reportedly said: “There’s this scene in The Terminator in which they implant the skin on the robot. The skin is external to him, yet it reports data to the robot and auto-repairs.
“We wanted to show that we can already do things like that.”
The Terminator model used in the experiment was only 18cm tall.
It was covered in the fungus, which grew over a few days so a skin was created.
Then, the scientists attached electrodes and proved that the fungus could react to stimuli.
The researchers hope that their fungi experiment could help create futuristic sensors in the future.
That could even include buildings with a coating that can tell the temperature and regulate accordingly.