Development of Living “Bio-Robots” for Autonomous Actuations

Abstract

The implementation of autonomous functions, such as autonomous actuation, self-healing, and learning functions, has been a potent strategy to realize adaptation abilities against changes in environments and sudden incidents. Organic materials, such as living cells and tissues, can be used as robot parts for the implementation of autonomous functions because they can modify biological functions and remodel tissue morphologies in response to the environment. A brain organoid is a cell aggregate formed by recapitulating the development processes of the fetal brain in vitro. Because the brain organoid reproduces complex 3D structures and various cells, it can be used as a living regulator of robots for implementing complex autonomous functions. In contrast, engineered muscle tissues constructed by culturing myoblasts with biomaterials can also be used as a living actuator for robots. Therefore, to implement autonomous functions for robots, we have proposed methods for connecting the brain organoid with engineered muscle tissue and for co-culturing complex in a culture vessel.