The machine system helps bonsai trees control a robot arm holding a knife

The Plant Machete system includes ornamental plants of the Arachnaceae family and a robotic arm holding a large knife that can stab, slash and swing according to signals from the plant.

The system works by using a small open source controller connected to the tree to read electrical noise emitted by the tree using sensors mounted on the leaves. A custom software then translates these signals into real-time movement for the robot arm.

Bowen's purpose in creating Plant Machete is to demonstrate that plants can act as a robot's brain, allowing it to interact with the world.

Although very impressive, the technology of controlling robots with brain waves has been researched by many other engineers.

A few months ago, using a robotic arm connected to a brain-computer interface, a partially paralyzed man was able to feed himself for the first time in 30 years without the help of others. The system, created by a research team at the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, USA, allows patients to control robot arms with their thoughts to hold a knife and fork to cut food and then bring it to their mouth. .

Currently, scientists are continuing to develop a more advanced version that allows disabled people to transform the feeling of virtual limbs such as lost arms, legs. into real movements of the prosthesis.

Lesley Montoya

Update 22 August 2024