Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan have developed small autonomous robots that can be programmed and operated without external control. Each robot measures about 200 x 300 x 50 micrometers, smaller than a grain of salt.
The robots are equipped with miniature computers and sensors, run on light, and can move in complex orbits, react to temperature, and adapt behavior to environmental conditions. To move, they create an electric field that affects the water around their bodies, allowing them to move and coordinate in groups.
© Michael Simari, University of Michigan
These microscopic robots are capable of automatically measuring temperature within 1/3 of a degree Celsius, opening up the possibility of monitoring the health of individual cells. Each robot has a unique address and can execute different programs at the same time.
