By Zainab Shafiq 
A team of scientists from China has developed a Frankenstein robot powered by a small human brain. The mass of cells grown in a lab, also known as a brain organoid, is coupled with a computer chip that works in conjunction with the nervous system of the brain. Yes, it’s a ‘brain on a chip,’ working similarly to the functioning of the human brain, using a range of different sensors and an algorithm that is powered by AI. This new robot can run, pick up objects, and avoid obstacles, showing highly evolved motor skills.
How does Frankenstein robot work?
A Tianjin University research team claimed that the brain of this robot works just like the human one, and eventually, research in this field could open ways for restoration of damaged areas in the human cerebral cortex, leading to treatments against neurological disorders. The creation of the organoid was done with stem cells that in a human body form tissues of the brain. Then, it was placed on a computer chip, which transmits instructions to the body of the robot.
It was also instrumental in making brain-computer interfaces, which plug electrical activity in the brain into computer chips. According to the researchers, it is technology also used in ELON MUSK’S Neuralink chip that lets a human patient control a computer with their mind.
However, the technology behind the Frankenstein robot is still at a very nascent stage with issues like low developmental maturity and insufficient nutrient supply. The eyeless robot was able to respond due to the electrical and sensory signals sent by neurons. It is yet unknown whether organoids would one day be able to mend or recreate washed-up brain tissues in human beings.
This comes weeks after Japanese scientists created living skin on robots using human cells. Scientists published findings showing that such living skin was capable of forming a realistic smile, adding a creepily realistic touch to robotic surfaces.
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