Now, a robot with a brain of a rat

London, Aug 14 : British scientists have created a biological robot that is controlled by rat neurons.

The robot can be wheeled around and is linked wirelessly to a bundle of neurons kept at body temperature in a sterile cabinet.

This biological 'brain' signals the robot to make its way shoving away objects in its path.

Developed by researchers at the University of Reading, the robot is now being taught to become familiar with its surroundings.

"This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body, and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorises its experiences," The Independent quoted Professor Kevin Warwick, who led the project, as saying.

Now, the researchers are working towards getting the robot to learn how to navigate.

It won't be long, that the robot will be able to recognise familiar surroundings it has memorised.

In fact, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta have also built a similar mobile machine.

According to New Scientist magazine, US team was training the robot as if it was an animal learning tricks.

ANI