The challenge is building a component that can grow, while still remaining strong. At the same time, roots don't grow randomly. Root-to-root communication is what makes them spread out into neat patterns that absorb maximum nutrition from the soil.

That's a goal of the project, too. Robots have to be able to draw from their environments if they're going to be truly energy-efficient. And for stationary robots, a root-like system would allow the machine to pull power from the environment without relying on the sun or wind.

A robot... That can grow... Is life.