Robot With Rat Brain: Robot Has Biological Brain Made From Rat Neurons

BoingBoing reports that scientists have built a robot that has a biological brain from rat neurons:

The robot's biological brain is made up of cultured neurons which are placed onto a multi electrode array (MEA). The MEA is a dish with approximately 60 electrodes which pick up the electrical signals generated by the cells. This is then used to drive the movement of the robot. Every time the robot nears an object, signals are directed to stimulate the brain by means of the electrodes. In response, the brain's output is used to drive the wheels of the robot, left and right, so that it moves around in an attempt to avoid hitting objects. The robot has no additional control from a human or a computer, its sole means of control is from its own brain.

Watch the robot below.

The BBC notes that the rat-brain robot is aiding a study on memory.

Comments

[indyleftist]

10:30 AM on 08/15/2008

I'm Looking for Sarah Conner.......

[Harod]

10:13 AM on 08/15/2008

Al Gore said he invented it..

[AmandaBC]

09:52 AM on 08/15/2008

A robot with a rat's brain is nothing new. There's been one in the White House for the last eight years... The one in the video, however, seems to be working a lot better...

[MarkInEugene]

12:12 AM on 08/15/2008

I'll bet the gears are turning in the Pentagon's basement...the beginnings of the real Terminator?

[Quaoar]

10:08 PM on 08/14/2008

Sounds like they created an artificial Neo-con.
The parts of the brain which control ethics and morals are probably non-functional.

[swooge]

09:45 PM on 08/14/2008

Folks, I give you the next GOP VP candidate.

heh...

[5150]

09:31 PM on 08/14/2008

The very definition of an NSA agent.

[charon]

09:18 PM on 08/14/2008

A robot with a rat brain? Perfect for the rat race.