Researchers create the world's first living, programmable robots

Engadget

15 Jan 202002:50

Summary

TLDRResearchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created 'Zeno BOTS,' millimeter-wide living machines from African clawed frog stem cells. These programmable organisms, defined by an evolutionary algorithm, can move and potentially carry payloads. Observing their apparent cooperation, scientists foresee applications in drug delivery, arterial plaque removal, and radioactive waste cleanup. The study of these brainless yet seemingly collaborative entities may lead to breakthroughs in biology, computer science, and robotics.

Takeaways

🧬 Researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created living machines, which are neither traditional robots nor known animal species.
🐸 These living machines, called Xenobots (Zeno BOTS), are made using the stem cells of the African clawed frog.
🤖 Xenobots are millimeter-wide blobs that are programmable and can be shaped by an evolutionary algorithm on a supercomputer.
🚶‍♂️ The initial Xenobots were designed to perform basic tasks like moving in a certain direction, using frog skin cells for structure and heart and muscle cells for movement.
🔄 Later versions of Xenobots were built with holes to reduce drag and enable them to carry payloads.
🤝 The researchers observed the Xenobots seemingly cooperating and moving in circles to push pellets into a central location.
🧠 Despite lacking any gray matter, these organisms are capable of communication and collaboration.
🛠️ The potential applications of Xenobots include drug delivery, arterial plaque removal, and radioactive waste cleanup.
🔬 The research is in its early stages, with a focus on understanding how these brainless organisms can exhibit complex behaviors.
💡 Insights from Xenobots could lead to significant developments in biology, computer science, and robotics.
🔮 The full capabilities of Xenobots are yet to be discovered, and the public is encouraged to stay informed about their progress and other scientific advancements.

Q & A

What are Zeno Bots?
-Zeno Bots are tiny living machines developed by researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University, made from the stem cells of the African clawed frog and designed to perform basic tasks.
What makes Zeno Bots unique compared to traditional robots or animals?
-Zeno Bots are unique because they are living, programmable organisms that are neither traditional robots nor known species of animals. They exhibit behaviors that are a result of their biological makeup and programmability.
How were the initial shapes of Zeno Bots determined?
-The initial shapes of Zeno Bots were defined by an evolutionary algorithm running on the University of Vermont's deep green supercomputer cluster.
What role do frog skin cells play in the Zeno Bots?
-Frog skin cells provide the basic passive structure for the Zeno Bots, allowing them to maintain their form.
How do heart and muscle cells contribute to the functionality of Zeno Bots?
-Heart and muscle cells give Zeno Bots the ability to move, which is essential for them to perform tasks such as moving in a certain direction.
What improvements were made in later versions of Zeno Bots?
-Later versions of Zeno Bots were built with holes in their centers to reduce drag and even allowed them to carry payloads.
What behavior of Zeno Bots indicated to researchers that they were on the right track?
-Researchers noticed Zeno Bots cooperating by moving around in circles and pushing pellets into a central location, which suggested complex behaviors emerging from simple units.
What potential applications do researchers foresee for Zeno Bots in the future?
-Potential applications include drug delivery to targeted organs, arterial plaque removal, and cleaning up radioactive waste, after further development and fine-tuning.
Why is the research team interested in understanding how Zeno Bots communicate and collaborate?
-The team is interested in understanding these behaviors to learn how complex behaviors can emerge from simple base units, which could lead to significant advancements in biology, computer science, and robotics.
What stage is the research on Zeno Bots currently in?
-The research is in its very early stages, with the focus currently on understanding the mechanisms behind the behaviors of these technically brainless organisms.
What can we expect from Zeno Bots in the future?
-While it's too early for practical applications, future developments could lead to staggering advancements in various fields once the capabilities and behaviors of Zeno Bots are fully understood.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Living Machines: Zeno BOTS

Researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have developed a new form of living machines, termed Zeno BOTS. These millimeter-wide organisms are created using the stem cells of the African clawed frog and are shaped by an evolutionary algorithm on a supercomputer. Unlike traditional robots or known animal species, Zeno BOTS are living entities with programmable capabilities. The initial design aimed for basic tasks, such as directional movement, utilizing frog skin cells for structure and heart and muscle cells for mobility. Advanced versions were engineered to reduce drag and even transport payloads. The researchers observed unexpected cooperative behaviors among the Zeno BOTS, such as collective movement and pellet pushing. The potential applications of these self-healing machines are vast, including drug delivery, arterial plaque removal, and radioactive waste cleanup. However, the research is in its nascent stage, with the team focusing on understanding the communication and collaborative mechanisms of these brainless organisms. The discovery could lead to significant advancements in biology, computer science, and robotics.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Living Machines

Living machines refer to a fusion of biological and mechanical systems, creating entities that exhibit characteristics of both life and artificial constructs. In the video, researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have developed 'living machines' that are not traditional robots nor known animal species, but a unique category of programmable organisms, illustrating a novel intersection of biology and robotics.

💡Zeno BOTS

Zeno BOTS are millimeter-wide blobs created using the stem cells of the African clawed frog. Named by the research team, these entities are a key focus of the video, showcasing how living programmable organisms can be designed for specific tasks. The script describes how these Zeno BOTS were made to move in certain directions and even cooperate, indicating a level of functionality that is central to the video's theme of biological robotics.

💡Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. In the context of the video, the stem cells from the African clawed frog are used as the foundational material for creating the Zeno BOTS. The script mentions that these cells were incubated and then woven together, highlighting the importance of stem cells in the development of these living machines.

💡Evolutionary Algorithm

An evolutionary algorithm is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses methods inspired by natural evolution, such as reproduction, mutation, recombination, and selection. The video describes how an evolutionary algorithm running on a supercomputer was used to define the shapes of the Zeno BOTS, emphasizing the role of AI in shaping these living organisms for specific tasks.

💡Self-Healing Machines

Self-healing machines are systems capable of repairing themselves when damaged. The video suggests that with further development, the Zeno BOTS could become self-healing, which would be a significant advancement in the field. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of future applications for these living machines.

💡Drug Delivery

Drug delivery refers to the method or process of administering a pharmaceutical compound to achieve a therapeutic effect. The script mentions the potential use of Zeno BOTS for targeted drug delivery, indicating a future application where these living machines could be programmed to transport medication directly to specific organs.

💡Plaque Removal

Plaque removal is the process of eliminating plaque, a substance that can build up on the walls of arteries, leading to health issues. The video suggests that the Zeno BOTS could be used for plaque removal in arteries, demonstrating a potential medical application of these living machines.

💡Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste refers to waste that contains radioactive material. The video hints at the possibility of using Zeno BOTS for cleaning up radioactive waste, showcasing the potential environmental applications of these living programmable organisms.

💡Collaboration

In the context of the video, collaboration refers to the seemingly coordinated actions of the Zeno BOTS, such as moving in circles and pushing pellets into a central location. This behavior, although lacking a central 'brain', suggests a form of basic communication or cooperation, which is a key point of interest for the researchers.

💡Complex Behaviors

Complex behaviors are intricate patterns of actions or responses that can emerge from simpler systems. The video discusses the researchers' interest in understanding how complex behaviors can arise from the simple base units of the Zeno BOTS, which could lead to significant developments in biology, computer science, and robotics.

💡Biological Robotics

Biological robotics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from biology and robotics to create systems that exhibit life-like characteristics. The video's main theme revolves around the creation of Zeno BOTS, which are a prime example of biological robotics, as they are living entities with programmable capabilities.

Highlights

Researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have developed tiny living machines called XenoBOTS, which are programmable organisms.

XenoBOTS are made using the stem cells of the African clawed frog and are woven together into specific shapes using an evolutionary algorithm.

The XenoBOTS are designed to perform basic tasks such as moving in a certain direction, with frog skin cells providing the structure and heart and muscle cells enabling movement.

Later versions of XenoBOTS were built with holes in their centers to reduce drag and allow them to carry payloads.

Researchers observed XenoBOTS seemingly cooperating and moving in circles to push pellets into a central location.

Despite being technically brainless, XenoBOTS are able to communicate and collaborate with each other, raising questions about how complex behaviors emerge from simple base units.

The potential applications of XenoBOTS include drug delivery to targeted organs, arterial plaque removal, and radioactive waste cleanup.

The research is in its early stages, and the team is currently focused on understanding how XenoBOTS communicate and collaborate.

Understanding the communication and collaboration of XenoBOTS could lead to significant developments in biology, computer science, and robotics.

The XenoBOTS project represents a novel approach to creating living machines that are programmable and have potential practical applications.

The development of XenoBOTS was announced by researchers at the University of Vermont and Tufts University.

The XenoBOTS were created using an evolutionary algorithm and the University of Vermont's deep green supercomputer cluster.

The initial batch of XenoBOTS was designed with the goal of performing very basic tasks.

The XenoBOTS are capable of self-healing, which is a significant feature for their potential applications.

The researchers are currently observing and studying the XenoBOTS to understand their capabilities and behavior.

The XenoBOTS project is an example of interdisciplinary research combining biology, computer science, and robotics.