Fungal sensing skin

TL;DR

This paper introduces a living fungal skin made of mycelium that can recognize mechanical and optical stimuli, demonstrating potential for use in adaptive architecture and soft robotics as an intelligent sensing surface.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence that fungal materials can serve as intelligent skins capable of recognizing external stimuli and sensory fusion.

Findings

Fungal skin reacts differently to weight loading and removal.

Fungal skin responds to changes in illumination.

First experimental demonstration of fungal material as a sensory surface.

Abstract

A fungal skin is a thin flexible sheet of a living homogeneous mycelium made by a filamentous fungus. The skin could be used in future living architectures of adaptive buildings and as a sensing living skin for soft self-growing/adaptive robots. In experimental laboratory studies we demonstrate that the fungal skin is capable for recognising mechanical and optical stimulation. The skin reacts differently to loading of a weight, removal of the weight, and switching illumination on and off. These are the first experimental evidences that fungal materials can be used not only as mechanical `skeletons' in architecture and robotics but also as intelligent skins capable for recognition of external stimuli and sensorial fusion.