A revolutionary discovery in the scientific world is redefining the term “small.” Engineers at the universities of Pennsylvania and Michigan have managed to create the world's first programmable robot that is smaller than a grain of sand and even tiny enough to balance on the fine lines of a fingerprint. This microrobot, 10,000 times smaller than previous designs, is almost invisible but has the ability to “feel, think and move” independently.
This technological marvel, just 300 micrometers wide, is a real computing platform with an embedded processor, memory and sensors. The robot, which draws its energy from the tiny solar panels, can move in a liquid environment at the same time as other robots, just like schools of fish. Interestingly, this tiny device, capable of measuring the temperature of its surroundings, can transmit the obtained data to the outside world through a special “dance” figure, just like honey bees. Engineers emphasize that placing a “brain” in this microscopic body ushers in a new era in the world of miniature robotics.
Although the laws of physics make moving a robot of this size as difficult as fighting tar in water, the researchers managed to overcome this obstacle by using electric fields instead of moving parts. This invention, which is the result of about five years of work, is just the beginning of the journey, according to researchers. It is assumed that these robots will be able to take on much more complex tasks in the future by expanding their storage capacity. Who knows, perhaps one day these microscopic sentinels will become our invisible doctors, wandering throughout our bodies and protecting the health of our cells.
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