A hybrot (short for "hybrid robot") is a cybernetic organism in the form of a robot controlled by a computer consisting of both electronic and biological elements. The biological elements are rat neurons connected to a computer chip.
This feat was first accomplished by Dr. Steve Potter, a professor of biomedical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology:
| “ | In his experiment, Potter places a droplet of solution containing thousands of rat neuron cells onto a silicon chip that's embedded with 60 electrodes connected to an amplifier. The electrical signals that the cells fire at one another are picked up by the electrodes which then send the amplified signal into a computer. The computer, in turn, wirelessly relays the data to the robot. | ” |
| “ | The robot then manifests this neuronal activity with physical motion, each of its movements a direct result of neurons talking to neurons. And the robot also sends information back to the cells. Equipped with light sensors, the robot receives input about its location in the playpen from infrared signals lining the borders.[1] | ” |
What separates a hybrot from a cyborg is that the latter term is a commonly used to refer to a cybernetically enhanced human or animal; while a hybrot is an entirely new type of creature constructed from organic and artificial materials. It's perhaps helpful to think of the hybrot as "semi-living," a term also used by the hybrot's inventors.[2] Another interesting feature of the hybrot is its longevity. Neurons separated from a living brain usually die after a short period of time; however, due to a specially designed incubator utilizing a new sealed-dish culture system, a hybrot may live as long as two years.[3]
References
- Thomas B. DeMarse, Daniel A. Wagenaar, Axel W. Blau & Steve M. Potter; The Neurally Controlled Animat: Biological Brains Acting with Simulated Bodies.
- Shkolnik, A. C. Neurally Controlled Simulated Robot: Applying Cultured Neurons to Handle and Approach/Avoidance Task in Real Time, and a Framework for Studying Learning In Vitro. In: Potter, S. M. & Lu, J.: Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science. Emory University, Atlanta (2003).
- Potter, S. M., Wagenaar, D. A. and DeMarse, T. B. (2006). Closing the Loop: Stimulation Feedback Systems for Embodied MEA Cultures. Advances in Network Electrophysiology Using Multi-Electrode Arrays, pp. 215-242. Taketani, M. and Baudry, M. New York, Springer
