Published in Science Robotics · View the paper (DOI)
Researchers at Penn and UMich created microscopic swimming machines that can independently sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months, and cost just a penny each. The robots are powered by light and can be programmed to move in complex patterns, sense local temperatures, and adjust their paths accordingly.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- Penn and UMich create world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science · Dec 15, 2025 · first to report
- World's smallest programmable robot perform tasks University of Michigan · Dec 15, 2025