Specialists in art, design and robotics have been working
together to explore ways in which live biological materials
might be exploited to bring about movement or shape changes in
physical objects. Peter Walters from the University of the West
of England in Bristol, UK, and colleagues, have created a novel,
biologically-driven actuator: an "artificial heartbeat", powered
by live biological material. Pneumatic pressure released by live
yeast causes a membrane to distend. Movement of the membrane is
controlled by a valve activated by electricity produced by a
microbial fuel cell. When the membrane is fully distended, the
valve opens to release pressure, returning the actuator to its
state of rest for another actuation cycle. A 3D printer created
the structure of the bio-actuator, the rigid components and also
made the moulds used to cast flexible components in silicone
elastomer material. 3D printing technologies enable physical
objects to be fabricated directly from computer. Here the 3D
printing process used