World’s Tiniest Programmable Robot Is Nearly Invisible
▼ Summary
– This is the world’s smallest autonomous, programmable robot, measuring just 200 by 300 micrometers and being smaller than a grain of salt.
– It is a fully functional device that contains a computer processor, memory, sensors, and a propulsion system, all powered by solar cells.
– The robot operates in fluid, using an electrical field for propulsion without moving parts, and can sense its environment, such as measuring temperature.
– Its development was a breakthrough that overcame the unique physics of the microscale by combining a microscopic computer with a novel propulsion system.
– The creators envision this as a foundational platform for future microscale robotics with potential applications in areas like healthcare.
Imagine a robot so small it could rest on the edge of your fingerprint, nearly invisible to the naked eye. This isn’t science fiction but a real breakthrough in engineering. Researchers have created what they believe is the world’s smallest programmable robot capable of autonomous movement, shrinking previous designs by an astonishing ten-thousand times. This microscopic device, no larger than a grain of salt, integrates sensing, computing, and propulsion into a platform that operates entirely on its own.
The collaborative effort between engineers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan has produced a device that measures a mere 200 by 300 micrometers wide and 50 micrometers thick. It is so tiny that a freckle would dwarf it, and it appears as a mere speck on the surface of a penny. Despite its minuscule size, this robot represents a monumental leap. For the first time, a genuine computer, complete with a processor, memory, and sensors, has been integrated into a platform this small, all while being powered by solar cells generating a scant 100 nanowatts of energy.
This fully programmable platform operates when submerged in fluid, where it can move, sense its environment, and compute data. One of its demonstrated abilities is measuring the temperature of the surrounding liquid. It communicates this information through a unique method, performing a subtle movement pattern reminiscent of a honeybee’s dance. The robot’s propulsion system is particularly ingenious, as it contains no traditional moving parts like limbs or wheels, which would be impractical at this scale. Instead, it generates an electrical field that manipulates the flow of molecules around its body, effectively creating its own current to push through the fluid.
Building a functional computer for such a device required a radical reimagining of semiconductor design and programming. The unique physics at the micrometer scale presented a significant hurdle; forces like drag and viscosity dominate, making movement through fluid exceptionally difficult. “If you’re small enough, pushing on water is like pushing through tar,” explains nanorobotics engineer Marc Miskin from the University of Pennsylvania. The solution emerged from merging two innovations: a microscopic computer from Michigan and this novel propulsion system from Pennsylvania.
The researchers view this achievement as just the beginning. “We’ve shown that you can put a brain, a sensor, and a motor into something almost too small to see, and have it survive and work for months,” says Miskin. He emphasizes that this foundation now allows scientists to layer on advanced intelligence and functionality, opening a new frontier for microscale robotics. These robots can also synchronize with one another, forming coordinated groups that operate like schools of fish, potentially for months if kept charged by ambient light.
Future work aims to expand the onboard memory of these rudimentary robots, enabling more complex programming and sophisticated autonomous behaviors. The long-term vision is profound. Devices like these could one day monitor cellular health within the human body or perform intricate tasks in confined spaces, growing immense possibilities from the tiniest of machines.
(Source: Science Alert)
