Tiny robots have the potential to do things like
deliver targeted drugs inside the body,
but controlling their position and movements remotely
has been a challenge.
Now, a team of researchers has come up with
a new way to use magnets to fold tiny robots
into different shapes--allowing these remote-controlled
micro-machines to do things like grasp objects
and crawl around.
Magnets have been used to control bots before
but these other magnetic minions were stiff
because of the materials used to build them.
To create a millimeter-scale robot capable of
feats of flexibility, the researchers embedded
magnetic particles of the element neodymium
in pliable material.
The researchers then used a pair of powerful magnets
to flip the polarity of the neodymium particles
in different sections of the robot and
UV light to lock them into place.
By creating segments of the mini-robots
that were attracted or repelled in different directions,
the researchers could create complex 3D movements
like grasping, crawling, and swimming.
Researchers designed a few different robots,
each with different abilities
This robot is built for gripping objects--
when the magnetic field is activated, the robot’s
arms fold up, like a hand closing around an apple.
It can even curl up into a ball and roll around,
taking wireless commands from a scientist
using a video game controller.
This robot is built like an accordion,
and moves around like an inchworm.
This robot is robot has a number of paddles,
which allows it to crawl across surfaces like an insect.
The most obvious applications for these tiny
magnetic robots are medical, but they could
also be used to staff miniaturized factories
building even smaller goods.
Researchers are hoping to replace neodymium
in future versions of these robots.
Like lead or mercury, neodymium is a toxic
heavy metal that would need to be removed
from inside the body if the bots were being used
to assist a surgery or deliver drugs.
Researchers believe less toxic metals can still work,
but may require stronger magnets to be manipulated.
The speedy, low-cost manufacturing process
researchers developed for these robots could position
them for widespread success in the medical world.
