Today's robots contribute more to modern life than you might think. They may not be the androids of science fiction that many people imagine, but they are hard at work building cars and learning how to control nuclear fusion (opens in new tab). Boston Dynamics' work includes all kinds of crazy stunts (opens in new tab) like dancing (opens in new tab) and guarding Pompeii (opens in new tab).

It turns out that robotics is not all about metal machines. It's only been a few days since we were introduced to OSCAR (opens in new tab), an artist's rendition of a robot with disgustingly fleshy, pulsating flesh. As wonderfully vivid as these videos are, it's a good time to take a palate-cleansing look at real-world bio-hybrid robots.

According to Inverse (opens in new tab), a team of researchers has successfully implemented a new design for such a biohybrid robot. The robot uses a fusion of artificial and biological components. Nevertheless, it is not as quick or dramatic as previous Boston robots.

The bio-hybrid uses a combination of mouse muscle cells, a 3D-printed soft scaffold, and a wireless LED chip; the LED emits light that stimulates the mouse tissue, which in turn moves the scaffold; the 3D-printed soft material is so soft that this spasm moves the robot about 0.83 millimeters per second.

This is a very slow, very creepy mechanical flesh movement, but it is the fastest speed ever achieved by a bio-hybrid robot. The robot can use and move objects, move through mazes, and even use interchangeable tools. Plus, it is all wireless with no on-board power and looks much more palatable than our friend OSCAR.

Biohybrid technology is a more recent development than traditional robotics, so it is not expected to catch up with more mechanical manufacturing. Biohybrids have potential advantages, such as responding intuitively to things that more difficult robots might miss, such as heat, light like LED chips, or chemicals. Biohybrids may even be able to reproduce. This would be potentially useful, no doubt, but it would keep them thinking silently in fear all day long.

Given how new these robots are, there is still much work to be done. Obviously there are improvements that could be made to make these machines run a little faster, give them more control, and generally improve them. But it also seems important to grow neurons and give them brains for simple tasks. I agree.

If you'd like to read more about this terrifying idea, be sure to check out the full research paper at Science Robotics (opens in a new tab).