A Biohybrid Self-Dispersing Miniature Machine Using Wild Oat Fruit Awns for Reforestation and Precision Agriculture.

Advances in bioinspired and biohybrid robotics are enabling the creation of multifunctional systems able to explore complex unstructured environments. Inspired by Avena fruits, we report a biohybrid miniaturized autonomous machine (HybriBot) composed of a biomimetic biodegradable capsule as cargo delivery system and natural humidity-driven sister awns as biological motors. We employ micro-computed tomography, molding via two-photon polymerization and casting of natural awns into biodegradable materials to fabricate multiple HybriBots capable of exploring various soil and navigating soil irregularities, such as holes and cracks. These machines replicate the dispersal movements and biomechanical performances of natural fruits, achieving comparable capsule drag forces up to ≈0.38 N and awns torque up to ≈100 mN*mm. They were functionalized with fertilizer and have been successfully utilized to germinate selected diaspores. HybriBots function as self-dispersed systems with applications in reforestation and precision agriculture. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.