Researchers build robots with human brains

Chinese researchers have built a robot and given it a brain made of human stem cells. The technology could help in the treatment of brain damage in the future.

Researchers from China have developed a technology to give humanoid robots a human-like brain. A research team from Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science and Technology developed a brain-on-chip technology that combines a neural chip with a so-called brain organoid. It consists of tissue obtained from human stem cells.

Researchers build robots with brains from human stem cells

With the artificial brain, the scientists supply the robot with energy and can teach it various tasks. So far, it can avoid obstacles and grasp objects.

According to media reports, it is the world's first open-source brain-on-chip system for intelligent and complex information interaction, which could lead to the development of a brain-like computer system. The technology is an emerging branch of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) that aims to combine the brain's electrical signals with external computing power.

Initially, Elon Musk's efforts with Neuralink attracted a lot of international attention. Tianjin University now claims that their research could lead to the development of hybrid human-robot intelligence.

Brain-on-chip technology could repair human brain

The brain organoids typically only occur in early embryos and can develop into various tissues. When transplanted into the brain, they can establish functional connections with the host brain. The research team explained this in an unedited manuscript that they published in the journal Brain published by Oxford University Press.

“Human brain organoids are a remarkable platform for modeling neurological diseases and a promising approach to brain repair,” the text states. “However, the effects of physical stimulation on their development and integration are still unclear.” The technology also still faces bottlenecks such as low developmental maturity and inadequate nutrient supply.

However, treating the transplants with low-intensity ultrasound improved the differentiation of the organoid cells into neurons and the networking with the host brain. In the future, the technology could lead to new treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders and the repair of damage to the cerebral cortex.

Transplanting brain organoids is considered a promising strategy to restore brain function by replacing lost neurons. It also allows people to rebuild neural circuits.

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