Project description
A new approach to biorobotics that could benefit farmers
Scientists are embarking on a project to develop biological animal robots (BABots). While this may sound like science fiction, it is a real and ambitious scientific endeavour that would allow small animals with genetically modified nervous systems to carry out a range of behaviours beyond their natural capabilities. The EU funded BABOTS project will design the first BABot system. It will be implemented in Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode worm, which will be programmed to act collectively to detect and attack pathogens in an agricultural setting. BABOTS will genetically modify individual worm gene circuits and study collective behaviour in engineered worms to develop a theory of heterogeneity-based swarm control.
Objective
We aim to establish a fundamentally new technology of Biological Animal roBots (BABots), consisting of small animals with a genetically modified nervous system, enabling the execution of a desired repertoire of behaviors beyond their natural abilities. We will implement the first BABot system in C. elegans, a 1 mm long nematode worm. These worms will be programmed to act as a collective, and to detect, locate and attack invading pathogens in an agricultural setting. Being 100% biological, BABots are highly compatible with the natural environment, self-producible, and fully degradable. They will also be agile and highly sensitive to surrounding signals. To control BABot behavior, we will genetically insert specific new synaptic connections and synthetic gene circuits in C. elegans to produce artificial aggregation, dynamic sensorimotor switching and other functional building blocks. To ensure a safe and controlled deployment, we will genetically implement a multi-layered biocontainment apparatus. To gain tighter control over the BABot collective behavior, we will exploit heterogeneity in the population, blending, for example, leader and follower BABots, based on their differential access to information. The science behind this innovative technology includes a synthetic neurobiological approach to modifying individual worm behavior, the study of collective behavior in engineered worms, and the development of a theory of heterogeneity-based swarm control. We also dedicate a substantial effort to establish a firm and effective safety, ethical and regulatory framework, under which current and future BABots can be developed. This project will generate a radically new approach to bio-robotics that could contribute to precision agriculture, industry and medicine. Improving over a previous proposal, we significantly enhanced (i) the methodology, (ii) the safety and ethical aspects, and (iii) the demonstration and exploitation by implementation in an agricultural setting.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2022-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
5000 Namur
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.