Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group (B.O.R.G.)

Lab group logo

Animals have long served as an inspiration for robotics. However, many of the mechanical properties, physical capabilities, and the behavioral flexibility seen in animals have yet to be achieved in robotic platforms. Towards addressing this gap, research in the CMU B.O.R.G focuses on the use of organic materials as structures, actuators, sensors, and controllers towards the development of biohybrid and organic robots. The research group’s long-term goal is to develop completely organic, autonomous robots with programmable neural circuits. Such robotic systems will have future applications in medicine, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring.

Faculty

Victoria Webster-Wood

Victoria Webster-Wood

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Courtesy Appointment in Biomedical Engineering

Joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Fall 2018, Webster-Wood established the Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group (B.O.R.G.), bringing together bio-inspired robotics, tissue engineering, and computational neuroscience to create novel devices.

Publications

Vickie Webster-Wood’s most recent list of publications can be found on Google Scholar.

Office
Wean 5321
Phone
412.268.3017
Email
vwebster@andrew.cmu.edu
Google Scholar
Victoria Webster-Wood

Research Overview

Research in the CMU B.O.R.G. focuses on the study and application of organic tissues to create sustainable, biocompatible robotic systems. By studying existing tissues (such as skeletal muscle or neural circuits), we seek to identify design guidelines for bio-inspired and biohybrid robots. We can also use tissues, or cells isolated from these tissues, to grow novel organic systems in order to build biocompatible robots seeking to capture the compliance, behavioral flexibility, and force-to-weight ratios seen in living organisms.

  • Organic structures

    Organic structures

    In living organisms, bio-compatible materials and proteins make-up the structures that support and guide the function of surrounding cells and tissues. The CMU B.O.R.G. uses a variety of bio-fabrication techniques, including additive manufacturing and electrocompaction, to build protein and mineral based structures for robotic systems. Such structures are characterized via mechanical testing and mechanical properties are optimized to support the function of specific cell or tissue types.

  • illustrations and photos of muscle activation

    Organic actuators

    Muscle provides many of the functional properties often sought after in robotic applications including natural compliance, energy efficiency, and high force-to-weight ratios. Research in the CMU B.O.R.G. focuses on how to fabricate and support functional muscle tissues that mimic the structure of native muscle in living systems, how different stimulation techniques effect muscle performance, and on creating computationally efficient neuromuscular models for in silico robot design. Our group studies both mammalian muscle (for potential medical applications) as well as invertebrate muscle (for potential environmental monitoring applications).

  • illustration of sensory system parts

    Organic sensors

    The sensory systems of living organisms demonstrate amazing specificity and resolution. The CMU B.O.R.G. studies and simulates how the structure and cellular organization of such sensory systems effects cell signaling and how those signals are integrated and processed by the associated neural circuitry. Current research in this thrust focuses on invertebrate sensory systems for aquatic applications.

  • illustration of how organic controllers work

    Organic controllers

    Even relatively “simple” animal nervous systems are capable of robust sensory integration, signal processing, motor control, and complex behavioral flexibility, allowing animals to survive and flourish in complex, dynamically changing environments. Such properties and capabilities are a major goal in robotic control research. The CMU B.O.R.G. studies sensory integration and motor control in invertebrate neural circuits to better understand learning and control with a goal of creating programmed control circuits composed of living neurons for use in organic robots.

  • Image with four parts showing: structure, actuation, sensing, and control

    Biohybrid and organic robotics

    In addition to specific research on individual organic systems, researchers in the CMU B.O.R.G. are currently integrating organic and synthetic materials to create Biohybrid and even completely organic robots. The systems combine bio-inspired robotics, bio-fabrication, additive manufacturing, and simulation to create and test biocompatible robots. Our current research focuses on devices that are capable of crawling or swimming in aquatic environments.

  • photo of an example bio-inspired robot

    Bio-inspired robotics

    In addition to using living materials to build robotic devices, the CMU B.O.R.G. engages in traditional robotics research and development. We apply principles learned from our studies of the tissues, as well as relevant literature from biology and neuroscience, to create bio-inspired robotic devices and controllers. Our current research projects focus on bio-inspired control algorithms based on invertebrate neural circuits and biologically inspired swimmers.

    • Research project outcomes

    Project pages

    Research video

    Research Team

    Michael Bennington

    Michael Bennington

    Doctorate

    Research interests
    biomechanics, neuromechanics, biorobotics, and computational modeling
    Kevin Dai

    Kevin Dai

    Doctorate

    Research interests
    bio-robots and controls
    Ashlee Liao

    Ashlee Liao

    Doctorate

    Co-Advisor
    Jessica Zhang
    Research interests
    biorobotics, biomechanics, neural controls
    Kuanren Qian

    Kuanren Qian

    Doctorate

    Co-Advisor
    Jessica Zhang
    Research interests
    bioinspired robotics, neuron growth modeling
    Saul Schaffer

    Saul Schaffer

    Doctorate

    Research interests
    biohybrid actuators, prosthetics, 3D printing, metamaterials
    Ravesh Sukhnandan

    Ravesh Sukhnandan

    Doctorate

    Research interests
    soft robots, bioinspired robots, muscle mechanics
    Hima Hrithik Pamu

    Hima Hrithik Pamu

    Masters

    Research interests
    Soft robotics
    A generic human outline

    Yu Wang

    Masters

    Research interests
    bioinspired robotics, soft robotics, human-robot interaction
    Avery Williamson

    Avery Williamson

    Masters

    Alumni

    Ph.D. Alumni

    • Wenhuan Sun (Ph.D., Fall 2022, first position after CMU - Paypal)

    M.S. Alumni

    • Gordon Gao (MS, BME)
    • Kathleen Gladson (MS, MechE)
    • Jason Paulovich (MS, BME)

    Past and present undergraduate researchers

    • Jacob Abrams
    • Nathan Ang
    • Charli Ann Hooper
    • Adam Assad
    • Befeker Assefa
    • Ryan Bao
    • Lameck Beni
    • Anaya Bhammar
    • Annie Chen
    • Theophilos Cockrell
    • Jenna Cui
    • Anais del Rosario
    • Abirami Elangovan
    • Lekha Kesavan
    • Riti Krishna
    • Leon Lai
    • Justin Lam
    • Janice Lee
    • Rose lee
    • Bajram Metjahic
    • Nickia Muraskin
    • Arpita Nag
    • Fernando Plata
    • Allison Rojas
    • Nicole Segale
    • Gian Seixas
    • Avani Shukla
    • Summer Sun
    • Ian Turner
    • Emily Wang
    • Vicki Wang
    • Karen Whirley
    • Xochitl Zazueta

    Join us

    If you are interested in joining the CMU B.O.R.G. please read the appropriate section below.

    Undergraduates: Projects are advertised through the MechE newsletter as they are available. Please refer to this information for opportunities to join the lab or email Dr. Webster-Wood with the tag [Undergrad] in the subject if you are interested in whether new projects may be becoming available.

    Graduate students: All graduate students (MS or Ph.D.) will only be considered through the official CMU application system. Please apply online. If you are an admitted MS student and would like to learn about available projects please refer to the MS Canvas page or email Dr. Webster-Wood with the tag [MS] in the subject.

    We specifically have project opening for new graduate students in muscle tissue engineering for biohybrid actuators. 

    Postdocs: We currently have a postdoc opening in tissue engineering for biohybrid actuators! 
    Apply online. 
    Please also send your CV directly to Dr. Webster-Wood
    Include the tag [MURI Postdoc] in the subject line.

    We look forward to hearing from you!

    Media mentions

    CMU Engineering

    Multi-university team building actuators for next gen bio-bots

    Multi-university team, led by Mechanical Engineering’s Vickie Webster-Wood, is building actuators for next generation sustainable bio-bots.

    CMU Engineering

    Hydrogels pave way for future of soft robotics

    Wenhuan Sun, Victoria Webster-Wood, and Adam Feinberg have created an open-source, commercially available fiber extruder to benefit future research with hydrogels and soft robotics.

    ICRA 2022

    CMU team wins big at robotics conference

    MechE’s Victoria Webster-Wood and her team took home a prize for their paper at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

    IEEE Spectrum

    Bergbreiter, Majidi, and Webster-Wood featured in IEEE Spectrum

    MechE’s Carmel Majidi, Sarah Bergbreiter, and Victoria Webster-Wood were featured on IEEE Spectrum, discussing softbotics.

    See More Mentions

    CMU Engineering

    Tuning synthetic collagen threads for biohybrid robots

    Researchers in Victoria Webster-Wood’s Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group are using techniques from tissue engineering to refine tendon-like collagen threads for a new generation of robots.

    Mechanical Engineering

    Biomechanics for teens

    National Biomechanics Day is a worldwide celebration that strives to bring the complex world of biomechanics to high school students through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions with real-world professionals.

    CMU Engineering

    NSF CAREER grants awarded to engineering faculty

    Four engineering faculty received NSF CAREER awards to support their education and research goals.

    CMU Engineering

    Sea slugs to provide clues in understanding the brain

    As the co-principal investigator on an NSF NeuroNex project, Victoria Webster-Wood will investigate the impact of neuromodulators on muscle actuation and modeling biological motor control in engineering frameworks.

    Mechanical Engineering

    Reassess, recalibrate, and transform

    Mechanical Engineering students and faculty adapted with innovation and agility to finish the spring 2020 semester during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Mechanical Engineering

    We have a Wimmer

    As a 2020-2021 Wimmer Faculty Fellow, Victoria Webster-Wood plans to design interactive demonstrations and to build virtual labs for the course “Gadgetry: Sensors, Actuators, and Processors.”

    Webster-Wood named Wimmer Faculty Fellow

    MechE’s Vickie Webster-Wood has been named a 2020-2021 Wimmer Faculty Fellow. The fellowship is designed for junior faculty members interested in enhancing their teaching through concentrated work.

    Future Tech Podcast

    Webster-Wood on biohybrid and organic robotics research

    MechE’s Victoria Webster-Wood was a guest on the Future Tech Podcast and discussed her research in developing biohybrid and organic robots. Webster-Wood describes how she and her lab are integrating muscle and neurologic tissue of animals into robots.