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