ETH Zurich builds biohybrid robots with lab-grown muscle actuators

How the biohybrid robots work

Researchers at ETH Zurich’s Soft Robotics Lab, led by Professor Robert Katzschmann, have created biohybrid robots that integrate laboratory-grown muscle tissue with artificial scaffolds. The muscle tissue, derived from mouse muscle cells, is secured to grooves in the scaffold, allowing it to attach and contract.

This design enables the robots to perform movements like jumping, swimming, walking, and grasping—tasks that were previously challenging for traditional soft robots. According to the team, the motion of these bioactuators has improved more than tenfold compared to earlier versions.

Design and limitations

The biohybrid robots measure over 1 centimeter and can walk at speeds of 6.2 millimeters per second. However, their reliance on a nutrient solution to sustain the muscle tissue restricts their operation to controlled environments, such as laboratories.

Aiste Balciunaite, co-lead author of the study, noted that the interaction between muscle and artificial scaffold is critical to the robots’ functionality. The team designed the entire structure on a computer, moving away from fixed muscle geometries to optimize performance.

Natural variability in muscle tissue also introduces inconsistencies, as not all actuators behave identically. This variability could pose challenges for scaling the technology.

Professor Katzschmann described the work as an early step toward building robots in a "more natural way," with potential applications in exploration and medicine.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

This research signals a shift toward integrating biological materials into robotics, potentially redefining the capabilities of soft robots. For founders and operators in robotics or bioengineering, the use of lab-grown muscle tissue could open new avenues for designing adaptive, lifelike systems—especially in environments where traditional mechanical actuators fall short. However, the current dependency on nutrient solutions limits immediate real-world applications, making this a long-term play rather than a near-term solution. The variability inherent in living tissue also poses a challenge for consistency, which teams commercializing this technology will need to address.

Key takeaways

• Biohybrid robots using lab-grown muscle tissue demonstrate a 10x improvement in motion, enabling complex tasks like grasping and swimming.
• Current limitations, such as reliance on nutrient solutions, restrict deployment to controlled environments.
• Founders in robotics and bioengineering may see new opportunities in adaptive, biologically integrated systems.
• Natural variability in muscle tissue introduces challenges for scalability and consistency in applications.

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