MIT team demonstrates thin muscle-powered swimming robot

MIT engineers demonstrated a thin robot powered by a single layer of living muscle cells that swam through a simple maze in a petri dish. The researchers grew light-responsive cells on two grooved gel fins. Flashing light on either fin made its cells contract, allowing the team to steer the robot. At its fastest, the robot traveled four body lengths per minute. The design advances the team's earlier thin muscle structure, which moved only about 100 microns, by producing enough force to swim. The prototype remains slow, and the researchers plan to redesign its body to increase speed.