Houseplant controls machete with robotic arm

‘Plant Machete’ works by reading signals from a common philodendron houseplant

A living plant acting as a ‘brain’ to a robotic arm wielded a machete as part of an installation called ‘Plant Machete' (David Bowen/ Vimeo/ Screenshot)

An inventor has created a machete-wielding robotic arm that is controlled by signals generated by a living plant.

The first-of-its-kind installation, dubbed the ‘Plant Machete’, works by reading electrical noises from a common philodendron houseplant through sensors attached to its leaves.

These signals are then translated into real-time motion for the arm, allowing it to jab, slice and swing the weapon in its grip.