Chinese scientists have created a Frankenstein-like robot controlled by a tiny human brain, a first.
The new system consisted of a lab-grown brain organoid, a mass of cells, and a computer chip that communicates with the brain’s nervous system.
The chip is designed with sensors and an AI-driven algorithm that makes the robot move, grab objects and avoid obstacles.
The team reported that the brain shows signs of intelligence similar to that of the human brain. This could lead to methods to repair damage to the human cerebral cortex and create other techniques to cure neurological disorders.
A team of Chinese scientists used stem cells to build the brain and linked it to a computer chip that transmits instructions to the robot’s body, helping it move its limbs, avoid obstacles and track targets
Scientists from Tianjin University developed the machine using a branch of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) that combines electrical signals emitted by the brain with external computers.
This interface is the same one that Elon Musk used for his Neuralink chip. This chip is implanted in the brain of a human patient, allowing him to control a computer with his thoughts.
Neuralink’s device is controlled by a special chip in the implant that processes signals and transmits them via a standard Bluetooth connection.
However, the Chinese researchers have not disclosed how they transmit the signals to their organoid.
To create their “living machine,” the team used pluripotent stem cells — a type of cell that exists in early embryonic development — to form the organoids, which divided into different types of cells found in the brain, including tissue, said Ming Dong, the study’s lead author.
Organoids are small, self-organized three-dimensional tissue cultures made from stem cells.
Such cultures can be engineered to mimic much of the complexity of an organ, or to express certain aspects of it, such as producing only certain types of cells.
Scientists take the stem cells and culture them for about a month, until they form features that resemble neurons.
However, the Chinese scientists have not disclosed how they trained the organoid to know when the robot should perform specific tasks.
According to the team, the technology still faces “bottlenecks such as low development rate and insufficient nutrient supply,” which typically includes antioxidants, fiber and minerals.
When the organoids were transplanted into the brain, they established a functional connection when treated with low-intensity ultrasound. This allowed them to form neurons that transmit signals from the brain, creating voluntary and involuntary movements.
Low-intensity ultrasound stimulation uses a transducer to transmit acoustic energy directly to the organoid to regenerate biological tissue.
Researchers explained that the robot has no eyes and only responds through the electrical and sensory signals sent by its neurons.
The team clarified that the pink spot on top of the robot’s shoulders in the images is only a cosmetic representation of what the brain will look like, and not the actual tissue still being used in prototypes.
“Brain organoid transplants are considered a promising strategy for restoring brain function by replacing lost neurons and reconstructing neural circuits,” the study said, according to the South China Morning Post.
However, the research is still in its early stages and it is unclear whether the organoids can ever be used to repair or reconstruct damaged brain tissue.
Experts have made special perforations in the face of a robot, allowing a layer of skin to attach
This came days after scientists in Japan transplanted human skin tissue and skin ligament structures onto the face of a robot to display human emotions.
Scientists from the University of Tokyo have published a report video featuring a bizarre, smiling robot face made from lab-grown human skin.
According to the team, robots with real skin not only look “increasingly realistic,” but can also heal themselves if damaged.