# Episode 147: Miniature living robots - Maria Guix

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-03-06
- Length: 31m
- Episode: 147
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix

## Summary

Maria Guix, a senior researcher at the University of Barcelona’s ChemInFlow lab, discusses her work on miniaturized living robots that combine synthetic structures with living muscle cells. She explains how these biohybrid entities, ranging from jellyfish-inspired designs to spring-based walkers, utilize self-stimulation and anisotropy to achieve motion without central nervous control. Guix highlights the challenges of keeping the biological components alive through continuous feeding and waste management, while noting their potential for drug delivery and personalized medicine in the coming decade.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=7) Introduction and Biohybrid Definition
- [4:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=247) Design and Fabrication of Living Robots
- [7:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=463) Training Cells and Emergent Behaviors
- [12:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=725) Anisotropy and Control Mechanisms
- [17:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=1038) Challenges of Viability and Feeding
- [20:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix#t=1212) Future Applications and Ethical Considerations

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- University of Barcelona (company)
- ChemInFlow lab (other)
- Purdue University (company)
- MIT (company)
- Carnegie Mellon (company)
- Biomel (other)
- Robot Talk (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [35. The Feisty Crustacean That Inspired A New Generation of Super Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-14-35-the-feisty-crustacean-that-inspired-a-new-generation-of-super-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [75. Size Matters: Tiny Biomimicry Leads to Big Breakthroughs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-06-21-75-size-matters-tiny-biomimicry-leads-to-big-breakthroughs) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [48. How Robots Can Reproduce and Create Organs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-14-48-how-robots-can-reproduce-and-create-organs) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [217. Meet the World's Smallest Walking Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-04-08-217-meet-the-worlds-smallest-walking-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [49. What Robots Can Learn from Starfish and Falcons](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-21-49-what-robots-can-learn-from-starfish-and-falcons) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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