XENOBOT

Seminar
Seminar Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award
of the diploma in Mechanical Engineering under
Sree Rama Govt. Polytechnic College, Triprayar

by

ABINRAJ K.A
Reg No.: 19020417

Under the Guidance of

SHIJU VARGHESE T
Lecturer, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SREE RAMA GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, TRIPRAYAR
08- 2021
Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

SREE RAMA GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNICCOLLEGE,

TRIPRAYAR

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS

ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Seminar entitled XENOBOT presented by

ABINRAJ.K.A bearing Registration No. 19020417 has been completed
successfully for the partial fulfillment of the requirements of Diploma in
Mechanical Engineering from Sree Rama Government Polytechnic
College, Triprayar.

SHIJU VARGHESE T JESBIN SADHASIVAM

(Lecturer (Lecturer
Department of Mechanical Department of Mechanical
Engineering) Engineering)

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. I S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

Acknowledgements

I owe great thanks to many persons who helped and supported us to do this
seminar.
We express our sincere thanks to Mr. ABDUL NAZAR. A.A, the Principal in
Charge of Sree Rama Government Polytechnic College Triprayar, for extending their
support.
We express our sincere thanks to Mr. JESBIN K.S , Head of the Mechanical
Engineering Department for providing with guidance and facilities for the project.
Our deepest thanks to Mr. SHIJU VARGHESE T, Lecture of Mechanical
Department the Guide of Project, for guiding and correcting various documents with
attention and care. He has taken pain to go through the project and make necessary
correction as and when needed.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. II S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

ABSTRACT
Evolution is necessary, especially to persist for billions of years. Millions of
organisms have evolved in various manners to survive, reproduce and become more
efficient. However, this is natural and cannot be controlled. But, with Artificial Intelligence
(AI), we can reproduce the same evolutionary system in a controlled environment. With the
technology we possess for the last few decades, we are now capable of identifying the
configurable organisms and then altering their behavior using biotechnology. This has
become especially easy with the help of biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence. AI has
made it possible to simulate millions of years of evolution to figure out the right
configurations for sustainable organic robots. These robots are organic and composed of
stem cells that originate from African clawed frogs (Scientific Name: Xenopus laevis).
Stem cells are fundamentally configurable cells that can be used for the replication of
tissues and organic growth. Thus, Xenobots are simply programmable living things.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. III S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CONTENTS
SL PAGE
CONTENTS
NO. NO.
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 XENOBOTS : FIRST LIVING ROBOT 3
3 WORKING OF XENOBOT 4
4 FUNCTIONS OF XENOBOT 7
5 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN XENOBOT AND ROBOT 9
6 APPLICATIONS IN FUTURE 10
5.1 IN MEDICAL FIELD 10
5.2 IN ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS 10
5.3 IN FUTURE

7 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 11

7.1 ADVANTAGES

7.2 DISADVANTAGES

8 XENOBOT 2.0 12
9 CONCLUSION 14
10 REFERENCES 15
9 REFERENCES

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. IV S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

LIST OF FIGURES
FIG PAGE
FIGURES
NO. NO.
1.1 XENOBOT 1
1.2 XENOPUS LEVIS- AFRICAN CLAWED FROG 2
2.1 XENOBOT 3
2.2 XENOBOT 3
3.1 EMERGENT EFFECT 4
3.2 XENOBOT 5
3.3 XENOBOT MOVEMENT 5
3.4 EMERGENT EFFECT 5
3.5 DIFFERENT ALGHORITHMIC DESIGNS OF XENOBOT 6
4.1 COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF XENOBOT 7
4.2 SELF HEALING CAPACITY OF XENOBOT 7
4.3 SHAPE CHANGING PROPERTY OF XENOBOT 8
4.4 XENOBOT MOVING PARTICLES IN ITS MOVEMENT 8
5.1 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN XENOBOT AND ROBOT 9
8.1 XENOBOT 2.0 12
8.2 XENOBOT 2.0 12
8.3 XENOBOT 2.0 DECTECTING LIGHT 13
XENOBOT 2.0 SHOWING DECTECTING LIGHT
8.4 13
PROPERTY

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. V S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
In this ever evolving world the technology and science in every field is increasing in
every minutes and some of innovation and inventions amuses or thrills us to our core,
Xenobot is one such contribution by biologists and computer scientists. Which is a special
type of life form created by us humans.

Fig1.1;Xenobots

Xenobots are synthetic life forms that are based on biological tissues and designed
using computers. They are created using stem cells as these cells have the capability of
developing into various cell types even without the manipulation of genes. Xenobots are a
collection of cells that follow algorithms. They are the first of their kind, especially when it
comes to living organic matter powered by computation. The concept of Xenobots was first
introduced as blueprints with the help of AI. These earlier Xenobots were not capable of
complex functions but could move around in fluid and other liquid-based solutions.
However, these synthetic organisms could only survive for a maximum of ten days. Early
applications of Xenobots were limited to monitoring pollutants, diseases, drugs, and
radioactivity but eventually, with the help of advanced AI methodologies such as ANNs
(Artificial Neural Networks), they were programmed to become autonomous. Now, with
the help of various algorithms and virtual testing environments, Xenobots can be
programmed to carry out simple tasks such as moving around, carrying payloads, forming
groups, or self-healing.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 1 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

Xenobots follow a reproductive pattern that is unique and not seen in any other
plant-based or animal-based life form. Even though these are fundamentally robots, they
undergo biological reproduction. The cells that form Xenobots are extracted from the
embryonic cells and given a chance to survive in other environments. This allows these
synthetic beings to learn how to move on their own and effectively reproduce in the most
efficient way possible. Various probabilities are virtually tested through simulating various
evolution algorithms, this is a great example of how life forms try to progress and survive.
Xenobots are the first living robot. They are neither a robot nor a living species.
They are mainly aquatic beings now. They are made from the cells African clawed frog –
Xenopus Levis .It functions like a biological robot that can execute specific tasks with little
or no human intervention with speed and precision. The main goal of Xenobots is to
understand exactly how does cells work ,how they regenerate ,how they communicate with
each other to make a complex body and how they work together. Xenobots promises to
deliver significant advances in biology.

Fig1.2; Xenopus levis – African clawed frog

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 2 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 2
XENOBOTS : FIRST LIVING ROBOT

Xenobots are synthetic programmable life forms that are automatically designed
by to perform some desired functions and built by combining together different
biological tissues. Xenobots are created by a team of biologists and computer scientists
from Tufts University and the University of Vermont(UVM) .The team includes sam
kriegman, Douglas Blackiston, Michael Levin ,Josh Bongard. They are made of actual
living cells. Xenobots are made from Stem cells in the Embryo of the African clawed
frog – Xenopus Laevis.

The stem cells include heart and skin cells .The xenobot has self healing capacity
that it can regenerate from cell damages. They are able to sustain life using the stored
energy in the form of protein. They are about 0.039 inches in size and it can live up to a
week, After that they are just dead cells so they don’t cause any pollution.

Fig;2.1 Xenobot

Fig;2.2 Xenobot

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 3 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 3
WORKING OF XENOBOT
Xenobots are made of living cells. They are made by pairing the skin
cell and heart cell by complex algorithms and programs using a super computer. The
programming of xenobot is not by any computer chip because it is a living organism.
The phenomena called emergent effect helps in the programming of xenobot. When two
different cells are combined together then sometimes they will exhibit a new and
unexpected behavior this is the emergent effect. The human body is a great example of
emerging effect because cells on the body can’t think independently but when combined
with trillions of other cells consciousness emerges.

Fig 3.1 Emergent effect

The cells used in xenobots are skin and heart cells from embryo of
African clawed frog – Xenopus Laevis. The skin cells act as a passive architecture like
in human beings and heart cells helps in locomotion because they have a natural
capacity to expand and contract rhythmically while skin cells can’t expand and contract.
The combinations of these two cells was programmed by the deep green super computer
to move in a certain direction.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 4 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

Fig 3.2 Xenobot; Red part: Heart cell, Green part: Skin cell

Fig 3.3 Xenobots movement :By expansion and contraction of heart cell

To function like this we take advantages phenomena emergent effect. The

emergent effect formed in the tissue is determined by the particular design by which the
cells are combined. There are trillions of way by which we can combine the cells and
each of them arising with same or different behaviors.

Fig 3.4 Emergent effect

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 5 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

But for a particular output or work we have to combine them in a specific way that can
give the desired output. To arrive at the best candidates for a functioning xenobot,
millions of iteration should be made and combining of two cells together in such a
specific way is a very complex and resource exhaustive procedure that can take long
time. To streamline this process a super computer cluster spent 4 months constantly
optimizing and iterating evolutionary algorithm to outline ideal genetic assembly of
candidates for the task that is set. These evolutionary algorithms work much like natural
selection constantly improving existing models and eventually ending up at what would
be deemed the best and efficient candidate .

Fig 3.5 Different algorithmic designs of xenobot

Once modeled by the super computer the xenobot was then put together by the
researchers. This is an extremely hard process which involves microinjecting the frog
egg with RNA. Then after 24 hours the egg membrane is removed using microsurgery.
Then stem cells are separated from the embryo and are join together. This tissue then
forms into a sphere. After 4 days the spheres become mobile. Due to the emergent effect
the final product formed after this procedures was a functional organism that could
carry out a number of tasks like;

1. Moving in a certain direction.

2. Moving an object.

3. Healing itself after being cut.

4. Working as group etc.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 6 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 4
FUNCTIONS OF XENOBOT

➢ Xenobots are tiny living robot that are able to move in any direction ,can circle and
move particles in their environment according to the algorithm that we are given
through a super computer.They can work independently and can also work as a
group for a common work.

Fig 4.1 Collective behaviour of xenobots

➢ The main property of Xenobot is that they have a self healing capacity.

Damaging Xenobot Damaged Xenobot

Self healing Xenobot self healed xenobots

Fig 4.2 Self healing capacity of Xenobot

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 7 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

➢ They can also change their appearance according to the algorithms given using the
super computer.

Fig 4.3 Shape changing property of xenebots

➢ They have the capacity move particles in its environment, which is known as object
manipulation.

Fig 4.4 Xenobot moving particles in its environment

➢ Xenobots can also be used to carry pay loads

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 8 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 5
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN XENOBOTS AND ROBOTS
XENOBOT ROBOT
➢ Xenobots are made of living cells ➢ Robots are made of different
like heart and skin cell. materials like metal ,alloys,
plastic ,carbon fiber etc.
➢ They are mainly aquatic beings ➢ They can be work on almost all
now. condition.
➢ They have self healing capacity ➢ They are repaired by workers if
that is they can heal them self if damages occur
damage occurs.
➢ Energy to work is obtained from ➢ Energy to do work is obtained
stored energy in the form of from different power sources
protein. like solar, electrical energy etc.
➢ When stored energy is fully ➢ The energy can be easily
consumed they become useless replenished and can do work for
because the energy can’t be long terms.
replenished.
➢ Xenobot can live up to 1 week. ➢ Robot can work for years and
can easily repair if small
damages occur.
➢ Xenobots can change their shape ➢ Robots can’t change their shape.
according to the algorithms
given.
➢ Xenobot are environmental ➢ Majority of robots causes
friendly they don’t cause any pollution since made of non-
pollution. biodegradable materials like
plastic ,carbon fiber, metals etc.
Fig 5.1 Difference between Xenobot and Robot

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 9 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 6
APPLICATIONS IN FUTURE

Currently, xenobots are primarily used as a scientific tool to understand how

cells cooperate to build complex bodies during morphogenesis;

Now there applications are limited but in future there application can be;

5.1 In medical field:

➢ Skilled up Xenobot can be used for regenerative medicines like repairing organs.
➢ Growing body parts for transplanting from ground up.
➢ Xenobots can be created using patients own cells then can be inserted into the
blood stream and program them to clear the fat from clogged arteries.
➢ They can also be used for detecting cancer.
➢ They can be used to deliver medication deep within the human body without
eliciting an immune response.

5.2 In environmental needs:

➢ By assigning individual task to swarm of xenobots to collect micro plastic from
ocean.
➢ Can also be assigned to search and collect radioactive contaminants.

5.3 In future:
➢ In the ethical implication of creating a totally new form of life and the scientist
fully acknowledged that future iteration of xenobot could include nervous system
,blood vessel etc. It’s these additions that are prompting to consider xenobots more
than just machines. they can even replace robots and nanobots in many fields
➢ In future it will provide scientists with the ability to control exactly how life forms.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 10 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 7
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

7.1 Advantages:
➢ Xenobots are made living cells therefore they are biodegradable

➢ They have self healing property.

➢ Their shape can be changed according to the given algorithms so that they can do
particular work.

➢ They can work as individual and also can work as group.

➢ Xenobots can be used in small areas like blood vessels arteries etc. since it is tiny in
size.

➢ They do not cause any pollution.

7.2 Disadvantages:
➢ They are very difficult to produce it will take hours of microsurgery to create only
one xenobot.

➢ Their life span is limited to only one week.

➢ They are mainly aquatic forms now.

➢ When the xenobots were observed in presence of other xenobots some emergent
behaviors would begin to emerge specifically xenobot would often team up and
help each other perform their program tasks so they are not 100% predictable
especially in presence of other xenobots.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 11 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 8
XENOBOT 2.0

On 2021 May 2 The scientist published upgraded version of xenobot named as

xenobot 2.0. unlike xenobot the xenobot 2.0’s locomotion is not by contraction and
expansion of heart cell. They have a particular leg like structure called cilia which help
them to move faster than xenobot.Cilia are tiny hair like structure that move similarly to
how oars propes a raw boat through water. This helps in faster movement.

Fig 8.1 Xenobot 2.0

Fig 8.2 Xenobot 2.0

Xenobot 2.0 is more durable and are capable of recovering from a full length
cut within 5 minutes after the injury. Now the xenobots are capable of memorizing light
.The cells of the frog embryos were injected with messenger RNA coding for the EosFP
protein before stem cells were separated, to create the Xenobots. The mature Xenobots ,

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 12 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

now have a built-in fluorescent switch which can record exposure to light around
390nm wavelength, then they emit red light.

Fig 8.3 Xenobot 2.0 detecting light

Fig 8.4 Xenobot 2.0 showing detecting light property

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 13 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 9
CONCLUSION

Xenobots are just the first step in trying to understand how life starts perhaps
one day scientist will be able to control exactly how life forms. The current first
generation of xenobots has a long way to go before they can change the world. But in
future there applications will be vast in every field Scientists even believes that in future
they will be able to create an entirely new full scale living organism that can be
controlled using a super computer for a specific function. So there will be no limitations
for its applications in future.

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 14 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar

Seminar Report 2021-2022 XENOBOT

CHAPTER 10
REFERENCES
➢ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenobot

➢ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/13/us/living-robot-stem-cells-intl-hnk-scli-
scn/index.html

➢ https://now.tufts.edu/news-releases/scientists-create-next-generation-living-robots

➢ https://youtu.be/wL64jqYn4CE

➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-zpsO8szEI

➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Qx0H4W82w

➢ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFRUZGqUFA

Dept. of Mechanical Engg. 15 S.R.G.P.T.C Triprayar