Biohybrid in action

Movement

Movement

Muscle path

Light

Weak

Strong

As the contractions pass the skeleton pushes upward creating an undulating motion to propell the ray forward

 

... allowing the ray to manoeuvre through an obstacle course

3 Control

The speed and direction of the ray are controlled by altering the strength of light stimulation ...

2 Movement

Light stimulating the front of the fin triggers a wave of downward contractions along the muscle path

 

1 Building blocks

The artificial ray is formed from four layers ...

Muscle layer

Made of rat heart cells genetically engineered to make them react to light

Gold skeleton

Stores energy so when the fins are pushed down they rise up again

Elastomer layer

Elastomer body

Movement

Movement

Muscle path

Light

Weak

Strong

As the contractions pass the skeleton pushes upward creating an undulating motion to propell the ray forward

 

3 Control

The speed and direction of the ray are controlled by altering the strength of light stimulation, allowing the ray to manoeuvre through an obstacle course

2 Movement

Light stimulating the front of the fin triggers a wave of downward contractions along the muscle path

 

1 Building blocks

The artificial ray is formed from four layers ...

Muscle layer

Made of rat heart cells genetically engineered to make them react to light

Gold skeleton

Stores energy so when the fins are pushed down they rise up again

Elastomer layer

Elastomer body