Artificial Metabolism: Towards True Energetic Autonomy in Artificial Life

Abstract. This paper reports on the proof-of-concept work to produce an energetically autonomous robot employing an artificial metabolic system using Microbial Fuel Cells. The present study compared the effects of changing a number of critical parameters, which control the fuel cell system, as a means to improve its overall performance. We demonstrate that the development of a fuel cell as an artificial metabolic system is feasible and it can provide sufficient power for a mobile robot platform to execute photo tactic ‘pulsed’ behaviour. The robot is code-named EcoBot I and it is the first robot in the world to be directly and entirely powered from bacterial reducing power.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: ECAL
• Authors: Ioannis Ieropoulos, Chris Melhuish, John Greenman
• Keywords: ECAL 2003, Fuel Cell, Microbial Fuel Cells, Robot