MIT builds paper-thin robot powered by living muscle cells

MIT engineers developed a swimming robot about 0.5 mm thick that moves using a single layer of light-responsive living muscle cells. It travels roughly four body lengths per minute and navigated an underwater maze by following a light source.

• Body is a 0.5 mm gelatin film with two muscle-cell fins
• Cells are genetically engineered to contract in response to light
• Top speed is about four body lengths per minute
• GelMA with square-bottomed grooves replaced fibrin for better cell alignment