Tuning Collagen Threads for Biohybrid Robots

Carnegie Mellon University - The idea of incorporating actual muscles or neurons into a robotic system might sound like some sort of science fiction, but researchers in Carnegie Mellon University's Mechanical Engineering (MechE) Department are taking steps to make it a reality. This field, known as "biohybrid robotics," is the central focus of the Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group (B.O.R.G.), led by Victoria Webster-Wood , an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. "Our ultimate goal is to be able to use biological materials as engineering materials in robotics to create renewable, biodegradable robots," she said. In a recent paper published in "The Journal of Biomedical Engineering," MechE Ph.D. candidate Wenhuan Sun aimed to better understand how to fabricate material threads to use in these special robots. The threads are made from collagen, a naturally-occurring protein found in structural tissues like skin, ligaments and tendons. In essence, the goal of this research was to better understand how to make an artificial tendon for use on a robot.