This robot plant seeks its own contact with light to survive



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During the imminent robotic apocalypse, humanity will have to fight against ultrafast androids, robotic dogs, everything here and, according to a new survey conducted by MIT, against the systems hybrid robotic power plants.

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Elowan, a hybrid of robot and factory manufactured by Harpreet Sareen and Pattie Maes, both of the MIT Media Lab, is a true cybernetic organism, although we are not the type to see it: instead of joining the man to the machine, These researchers use the internal electrical signals produced by the factories to control the actions of a two-wheeled robotic platform. In tests, Elowan was able to move to a light source – an action triggered by the plant itself

. The plants may seem a little paradoxical, but they have a surprisingly electric nature. Our friends who live photosynthesis are equipped with biological circuits capable of transmitting bioelectrochemical signals between tissues and organs. These signals are triggered in special circumstances, such as when the plant is exposed to light, a change in gravity (or orientation), a mechanical force (such as touch), and temperature changes. in case of injury. In fact, plants may not be mobile or not very visible, but they are armed with various tips to help them thrive and survive. Internal transmission of bioelectrochemical signals excites cells and tissues within plant cells, stimulating certain actions or responses, such as regeneration of tissues (growth), leaf extension to light, or triggering of cells. a defense against threats. [19659002

This network of active signals, as shown by this new experiment of "botanical cyborg", can also be used to increase the natural abilities of a plant. In this case, the movement of the installation relies on internal bioelectrochemical signals, which causes the wheeled robotic base to move towards a light source.

In this demonstration, Sareen and Maes used silver electrodes on stems, leaves and the root system of plants. An interface device processed and amplified the weak signals emitted by the plants and transmitted them to the robotic device. During testing, the lamps were placed on both sides of the Elowan. The plant could sense the light coming from the illuminated side, which provoked a response from the signal that triggered the movement towards the light. Thus, the hybrid plant-robot goes to the left and right – "the agent of movement is the factory".

To be fair, the use of the term "agent" can be a little exaggerated. Plants do not have "power" in that they are able to make decisions or decisions. Exercise their free will. Instead, their internal circuits and processes are driven by external stimuli, which makes them irrational automata. However, it is fair to say that Elowan's internal circuits direct the process.

It's a pretty cool experiment, both scientifically and artistically (Sareen is a visual artist and badistant professor at the Parsons School of Design), but the system can be expanded or altered for practical applications. Part of the idea behind the project was to leverage the natural abilities of plants to further enhance them.

Sareen imagines extensions of cybernetic plants that could allow them to develop and defend themselves in new ways. In addition, these symbiotic systems could be used to power future electronic systems, giving rise to devices with self-healing, self-healing, and self-healing capabilities [19659004]. For example, I am looking forward to receiving our new vegetable masters.

[MIT Media Lab]

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