Marimo machines: oscillators, biosensors and actuators

Abstract

Background The green algae balls ( Aegagropila linnaei ), known as Marimo, are large spherical colonies of live photosynthetic filaments, formed by rolling water currents in freshwater lakes. Photosynthesis therein produces gas bubbles that can attach to the Marimo, consequently changing its buoyancy. This property allows them to float in the presence of light and sink in its absence. Results We demonstrate that this ability can be harnessed to make actuators, biosensors and bioprocessors (oscillator, logic gates). Factors affecting Marimo movement have been studied to enable the design, construction and testing of working prototypes. Conclusions A novel actuator design is reported, incorporating an enhanced bubble retention system and the design and optimisation of a bio-oscillator is demonstrated. A range of logic gates ( or, and, nor, nand, xor ) implementable with Marimo have been proposed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13036-019-0200-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Biomechanical Sensing Using Gas Bubbles Oscillations in Liquids and Adjacent Technologies: Theory and Practical Applications

“…Finally, we mention a possibility of utilising bubble-based sensors in bioengineering for detecting pathogenic organisms [ 33 , 247 ] and creating new kinds of sensors and actuators [ 248 ]. In particular, bubbles play an important role in biosensors and actuators based on Marimo, green algae balls Aegagropila linnaei that are large colonies of live photosynthetic filaments formed by rolling water currents in freshwater lakes.…”

Marimo actuated rover systems

“…For spherical geometry, two variants were tested: (1a) Marimo ball of ∼60 mm diameter were located inside transparent sphere of 60mm diameter. The size was selected to correspond with previously published measurements [9] (1b) Marimo ball of ∼30 mm diameter in transparent sphere of 60mm diameter. For hemispherical geometry, one variants was tested: (2a) Half (hemisphere) of Marimo ball of ∼60 mm diameter in transparent sphere of 60mm diameter.…”

“…In our previous study [9] we extended prior research into photosynthesis-powered actuators and biosensors into more advanced systems. In this article we advance the concept of autonomous & self-powered movement, suitable for real applications, and describe a fully-functional prototype rover using a biological organism as its main component.…”

Towards Embedded Computation with Building Materials

“…The selection of concrete as a computational medium seems shocking at the first glance. On the other hand, various unorthodox substrates have been already reported to perform advanced computation, including liquid marbles [ 17 , 18 ], slime molds [ 19 , 20 ], mycelia and fungi [ 21 , 22 ], algae [ 23 ], and photochromic solutions [ 24 , 25 ]. In principle, any physical system of sufficiently complex, structure, dynamics, and responsiveness to external stimuli can be utilized for information processing [ 26 , 27 ].…”