Articles tagged with Microrobots
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a device that uses ultrasound to automate laboratory analysis tasks. The device combines microfluidics and robotics, allowing for the mixing, pumping, and trapping of tiny amounts of liquid. This innovation enables the automation of previously custom-designed systems.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel design for powerful microbatteries that can power tiny devices with high voltage and energy density. The batteries, which are hermetically sealed and compact, use innovative packaging technology and dense electrodes to achieve unprecedented performance.
A team of simple robots, nicknamed RAnts, use photormones to escape a corral and perform complex tasks. The research reveals how collective cooperation can arise from simple rules, applicable to solving problems like construction, search and rescue, and defense.
A new model describes how biological or technical systems form complex structures with signal-processing capabilities, enabling them to respond to stimuli and perform tasks without external guidance. The research has implications for microrobotics and the development of swarms of autonomous robots capable of complex tasks.
Researchers developed magnetic microrobots that can bind and isolate S. aureus from milk, improving dairy safety. The 'MagRobots' use antibodies to target the bacteria, allowing for efficient pathogen isolation while preserving naturally occurring microbes.
A team of researchers developed a new method for 3D-printing microrobots with multiple component modules inside the same microfluidic chip. The 'assembly line' approach allowed for the combination of various modules, such as joints and grippers, into a single device. This innovation may help realize the vision of microsurgery performed...
Ritsumeikan University researchers have developed a soft robotic microfinger that enables direct interaction with insects through tactile sensing. The study shows great promise towards realizing human interactions with the microworld and has applications in augmented reality technology.
Researchers at MIT designed simple microparticles that can collectively generate complex behavior, generating a beating clock that can power tiny robotic devices. The particles use a simple chemical reaction to interact with each other and create an oscillatory electrical signal.
Researchers at DGIST have developed a mass production method for biodegradable microrobots that can disappear into the body after delivering cells and drugs. The microrobots were created using a high-speed manufacturing method and were able to move to a desired location by controlling an external magnetic field. The stem cell carrying ...
Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed microscopic robots called microrobots that can swim around in the lungs and deliver medication. The microrobots safely eliminated pneumonia-causing bacteria in mice, resulting in 100% survival rates, whereas untreated mice died within three days.
Researchers at Cornell University have created smart microrobots that can walk autonomously using electronic brains. The robots, powered by photovoltaics, feature a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) clock circuit and platinum-based actuators. With this innovation, scientists can track bacteria, sniff out chemicals, destroy...
Researchers have developed magnetic microrobotics to remove deposits in shunts, common internal medical devices used to treat various conditions. The swarm of hundreds of microrobots can be moved along the tube to scrape away sediment, clearing the device without surgery.
Researchers at Penn Dental Medicine have developed a microrobotics system to access the root canal with controlled precision, treating and disrupting biofilms. The technology enables diagnostic and therapeutic applications, allowing for personalized treatment plans.
Researchers successfully taught microrobots to swim via deep reinforcement learning, allowing them to adapt to changing conditions and perform complex maneuvers. The AI-powered swimmers can navigate toward any target location on their own, showcasing their robust performance in fluid flows and uncontrolled environments.
Researchers developed artificial microtubules to transport microscopic cargo along magnetic stepping stones, overcoming fluid flow obstacles. The technology could facilitate targeted drug delivery and treat blocked vessels or cancerous tumors.
Researchers have developed bacteria-based biohybrid microrobots that can navigate through viscous tissues and deliver chemotherapy directly to tumors. The microrobots use near-infrared light to melt liposomes containing drugs, triggering release in acidic environments.
Researchers have successfully used lasers to control neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, as natural microrobots in living fish. The 'neutrobots' can perform multiple tasks, including delivering drugs to precise locations in the body, and show promise for targeted drug delivery and disease treatment.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a hands-free system that uses shapeshifting microrobots to brush, floss and treat teeth. The microrobots use magnetic fields to conform to different shapes and release antimicrobials to kill oral bacteria.
Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a single-material, single-stimuli microstructure that can outmaneuver even living cilia. These programmable structures could be used for soft robotics, biocompatible medical devices, and dynamic information encryption.
A new nanofiber-based biodegradable millirobot called Fibot can move in the intestines and release different drugs at anchored positions. Fibot's degradation capability is pH-responsive, allowing for controlled drug release.
Researchers have developed microrobot collectives that can move in various formations, reconfiguring their behavior quickly and robustly. The systems use a combination of magnetic forces, fluid dynamics, and computation to achieve coordinated patterns of motion.
Researchers developed micro-sized machines utilizing swarming strategy for cargo delivery, outperforming single robots with efficiency of up to five times. The team created a swarm of cooperating robots that can divide workload and respond to risks, expanding potential uses for microrobots.
Researchers aim to replicate buzz pollination using microrobots to understand its importance in agriculture and conservation. The project could lead to stronger motivation for conserving diverse bee species and optimizing fruit and vegetable yields.
Researchers used microrobots to demonstrate how a swarm of animals can complete an optimum flight response even if individual animals do not notice the threat or they react incorrectly. The study suggests that missing information from individual members can be compensated by other members, which may explain why animals organize themsel...
Biohybrid micro- and nanorobots promise to deliver drugs to body tissues with high precision, enabling tasks such as cancer treatment, cell microsurgery, and tissue engineering. Researchers envision incorporating novel biological components into robots to overcome immune responses and increase efficiency in manufacturing.
A new drive system has been developed for flapping wing autonomous robots, eliminating the need for conventional motors and gears. The Liquid-amplified Zipping Actuator (LAZA) achieves wing motion without rotating parts or gears, simplifying the flapping mechanism and enabling miniaturization to insect size.
Researchers have developed a combination of materials that can morph into various shapes before hardening, similar to the natural process of bone development in the human skeleton. The soft material can be used to create microrobots that can inject themselves into complicated bone fractures and expand to form new bone.
A team of researchers from Chemnitz University of Technology, IFW Dresden, and Max Planck Institute CBG presents a new type of biomedical tool with a tiny biocompatible microelectronic micro-catheter. The catheter has sensor and actuator functions integrated into its wall, making it highly flexible and adaptable to the body.
Researchers have created a microcrystal that utilizes self-continuous reciprocating motion for propulsion, enabling the microrobot to move itself sustainably in water. The microrobots exhibited different styles of propulsion and were affected by fin length, ratio, and elevation angle.
Researchers developed a magnetically powered microrobot for minimally invasive delivery into brain tissue via the intranasal pathway, overcoming limitations in traditional stem cell therapy. The new method is expected to bring possibilities for treating various intractable neurological diseases.
Researchers have developed fish-shaped microrobots that can guide themselves to cancer cells using magnets, where a pH change opens their mouths to release chemotherapy. The microrobots demonstrate promising capabilities for targeted cancer treatment, but need further improvements in size and tracking methods.
Researchers created self-propelled microrobots that can attach to and break down four common types of plastics. The microrobots lost 3% of the plastic's weight and altered its surface texture after interacting with it under visible light for seven days.
Researchers have used lasers to create bubble microrobots that can form inseparable shapes and control their movement. The robots can manipulate small pieces into interconnected structures with unbreakable connections.
A new laser-steering microrobot allows for precise control of laser beams in minimally invasive surgeries, enhancing surgical capabilities and precision. The device, developed by Harvard researchers, can be integrated into existing endoscopic tools and offers a non-disruptive solution for advancing surgery.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of microrobot that can navigate through the rough terrain of a human colon, enabling potential targeted drug delivery without causing side effects. The microrobots use magnetic fields to tumble and move through the colon, allowing for controlled release of medication.
Researchers at Michigan Technological University have developed tiny surfing robots that can manipulate surface tension to propel themselves through water. This breakthrough could lead to new biomedical applications, such as surgery, by understanding the colonization of bacteria in the body.
A microrobot combined with in situ, in vivo bioprinting has been developed to treat gastric wounds. The platform, which can fold itself down to enter the body, has shown promising results in repairing tissues and promoting cell viability.
Researchers at Harvard have developed HAMR-JR, a half-scale cockroach-inspired microrobot that can run, jump, carry heavy payloads, and turn on a dime. The tiny robot, about the size of a penny, boasts unprecedented dexterity and speed, defying conventional design limitations.
Researchers have developed a microneedle that effectively targets and remains attached to cancerous tissue in lab experiments without needing continuous application of a magnetic field. The new technology allows for more precise drug delivery, avoiding unwanted side effects.
Researchers designed acoustically driven microrobots capable of fast unidirectional locomotion and surface slipping. The robots' thrust forces were significantly stronger than those of microorganisms, enabling deployment in the human vascular system for medical purposes.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new approach to create autonomous microrobots that can detect and repair defects in synthetic materials. The microrobots use shape-shifting materials to navigate and perform tasks such as distributed sensing, delivery of therapeutic cargo, and on-demand repairs.
The Paul Scherrer Institute has developed a micromachine that can perform different actions using magnetic fields. The robot measures only a few micrometres across and can be reprogrammed to flap its wings, hover, turn, or side-slip. This technology is an important step towards micro- and nanorobots that can carry out various tasks.
Researchers at Harvard develop resilient RoboBee with soft artificial muscles that can withstand collisions and achieve controlled hovering flight. The breakthrough solves long-standing challenges in microrobotics, paving the way for potential applications in search and rescue missions.
Researchers have created tiny, self-propelled robots that can remove radioactive uranium from wastewater. The microrobots use a rod-shaped material called ZIF-8 and propel themselves using hydrogen peroxide fuel, successfully removing 96% of the uranium in an hour.
A biodegradable microrobot has been developed to perform hyperthermia treatment and control drug release, enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatment. The microrobot can carry out precise transport of drugs through wireless control using an external magnetic field.
Microrobots, made of magnesium and gold, are designed to deliver medication to specific spots inside the body. They use photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) to navigate to tumors and release their payload.
The new microrobots can load, transport and deliver cellular material with greater speed and less damage than traditional methods, opening up a wide range of applications in life sciences and beyond. They also enable precise control over cell behavior, which is crucial for regenerative medicine and neural repair.
The RoboBee has successfully flown solo for the first time, with a wingspan of four wings allowing it to lift off without additional power. The vehicle's weight is 259 milligrams, making it the lightest untethered flight ever achieved.
Researchers developed a scaffold microrobot that precisely delivers cells to target tissues, increasing treatment safety and efficiency. The technology minimizes cell loss in the body and can be controlled wirelessly using an external magnetic field.
The DGIST-ETH Micro Robot Research Center won 6 awards, including 3 golds and a special award from the Taiwan Invention Association, at The 47th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The center's inventions featured innovative technologies such as magnetic control and video systems for surgical applications.
Researchers at University of Toronto have developed an automated method to design and 3D print magnetized microrobots, reducing assembly time from hours to minutes. The new technique allows for the creation of smaller and more complex robots with potential applications in targeted drug delivery, assisted fertilization, and biopsies.
Researchers developed a microrobot that can reach accurate locations of cardiovascular disease, such as Chronic Total Occlusion, and move towards desired directions inside complicated blood vessels. This innovation increases the success rate of treatment and shortens surgery time.
Researchers have created biocompatible microrobots inspired by bacteria that can swim through fluids and modify their shape as needed. These devices use embodied intelligence to navigate complex systems without compromising speed or maneuverability.
The 'microscale magnetic tumbling robot' can traverse uneven surfaces and climb steep inclines in both dry and wet environments. Researchers developed the bot using standard photolithography techniques and explored its performance in fluid media to address unique challenges at the micro-scale.
The new RoboBee, 1,000 times lighter than previous robots, uses floating devices and an internal combustion system to stabilize on the water's surface before propelling itself back into the air. The robot can perform search-and-rescue operations, environmental monitoring, and biological studies.
Researchers created complex reconfigurable microrobots that can be manufactured with high throughput, mimicking the behavior of bacteria to deliver drugs or perform precise operations. The robots are soft, flexible, and motor-less, using electromagnetic fields and heat to control their movement.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a fabrication method for swimming microrobots using just two conjoined microparticles coated with magnetic debris. The microswimmers can be controlled by an external magnetic field, allowing for control over speed and direction.
Researchers have developed a system that allows RoboBees to perch in flight, saving energy. The electrostatic adhesion mechanism attracts the robot to surfaces, enabling it to extend its operational life significantly.
Researchers have created tiny particles that can be precisely controlled by magnetic fields and generate electric fields, revolutionizing medicine and regenerative therapy. These 'Janus' particles can target cancer cells with precision and efficiency, eliminating side effects.
A team of engineers at Drexel University has developed a method for making bacteria-powered microrobots agile, enabling them to detect obstacles and navigate around them. The robots use electric fields to steer clear of hazards, providing a new level of automation in hybrid microrobotics research.