Rat Brained Sumobot

Wed, 08/13/2008 - 00:38 — Derek Anderson

Rat neuron culture and robot, courtesy University of Reading.

While not really designed for a sumo competition, this robot has entered the Matrix, with a real biological brain grown from rat neurons controlling it's actions.

Directed by Professor Kevin Warwick, The University of Reading is examining how neurons learn in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of development and of diseases and disorders which affect the brain such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, stoke and brain injury.

To add to the overall creepiness, the brain itself is remotely controlling the robot over a bluetooth link.

Video after the jump...