Robot gets a brain – A real brain, that is

Improbable as it may sound, Kevin Warwick’s robot has a real, living, biological brain. The project started when his team noticed that rat neurons spread on electrodes had formed connections with each other. Researchers fed the “developing brain” with a liquid containing nutrients and minerals, and ultimately attached it to a simple body with wheels and sonar. Relay of signals between the sensor, motors and brain dominates the robot’s behavior, and helps it learn.

robot with brain

The robot has learned to move around effectively, and the team is now working on adding audio input as well. Theoretically, there are a number of possibilities regarding the senses of the robot. Researchers are now planning to study how the robot learns and stores memories, in hope that it will help fight neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Via: Seed