Fungal Sensing Skin

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundA fungal skin is a thin exible sheet of a living homogeneous mycelium made by a lamentous 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.ResultsIn experimental laboratory studies we demonstrate that the fungal skin is capable for recognising mechanical and optical stimulation. The skin reacts dierently to loading of a weight, removal of the weight, and switching illumination on and off.ConclusionsThese are the rst 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.