A Cyborg Houseplant Can Follow Light Developed By MIT Researchers

Taking care of plants in the house gradually becomes a hobby of many people, but the obstacles to light make individuals have to give up. Many inventions have been developed to make it easier for people to care for indoor plants, including AI or hexapods, ... to support lighting and watering.

A research team at MIT Media Lab developed a Plant and Machine Synthesis. Its name is ELowan, a "cybernetic lifeform" connected to indoor plants as a machine to meet basic lighting needs.

The connection between plants and technology is moving to new heights, scientists aim to create "a plant in direct dialogue with a machine."

This machine is designed based on the development based on the light search system of plants. A sophisticated bioelectric stimulation system through electrical signals has been set up in this system. Simply put, it works similar to a natural process of plants.

Cyber Botany is the concept used in this development, which was published in 2018 in a study of Harpeet Sareen, assistant professor at Parsons School of Design. Patti Maes is her companion in this study. It can be said that this method is an upgraded version of the greenhouse to use the technology to control the environment optimally.

Sareen explained in the article that plants have natural biochemical signals inside them. This causes them to be stimulated with factors in environmental conditions and to transmit signals to organs and tissues. Natural effects such as gravity, light, mechanical stimulation, wounds, and temperature will be met by generated electrical signals.

The goal of this study is to create "techno-plant hybrids". The stem, leaves, and ground are all electrodes embedded with Elowan, it has a coordinated process, allowing nanosensors to be sent through channels. This has pushed the boundaries of plant interaction higher.

Robots supporting indoor plants are also designed for the purpose of  "hybridizing with nature", but what Elowan is more. This research can be applied to expand the potential that plants can bring.

Sareen and Maes have an idea for the application of this research, such as the sensor of human health and the surrounding environment through plants.

The researchers say there will be a new set of devices called "organic interaction devices" released based on this technology. Many ambitious projects are proposed by MIT researchers to exploit the best possibilities of plants. Synthetic Ecosystems is opened thanks to the support of Parsons School of Design, which includes extensive nature-based design initiatives.

This multi-perspective project is proof that the ability to penetrate natural processes in our environment. Technology can detect and support parts and structures, creating a combination of technology and nature, bringing more efficiency.

Sareen and her team believe that technology has so far invented devices that care for plants from the outside. But nature and plants themselves have sensors by their internal signals, or reactions (which are plant movements to adapt to their surroundings), researchers should take advantage of and enhance those abilities.