As the workforce continues to automate in a growing number of areas, the likelihood of integrating robots into everyday life is becoming a reality.
From complex healthcare procedures to assembling vehicles in an industrial factory, robots that are accurate, durable and agile, are increasingly important.
The challenge comes when scaling robotic technology for use in small, confined spaces.
A research team from Northwestern University, however, has developed an innovative micro-robot which is currently the smallest walking, remote-controlled robot ever made.
The robots were designed to resemble crabs, complete with minuscule “eyes” and multiple appendages.
This new technology is remarkable for a few different reasons.
The crab is incredibly dexterous, and can crawl, jump, bend, and even twist as it makes its way across surfaces.
Even more notable is the fact that the crab is half a millimetre wide – around the size of a flea, and smaller than the team’s previous micro-robotic prototypes.
As impressive as the technology is, it can be difficult to see the importance of this development at first glance.
However, the significance of these micro-sized robots lies in their potential to perform practical tasks in small spaces.
The reality of flexible, small scale robots one step closer
Small, accurate robots that are able to function even in minuscule spaces could directly impact multiple industries, including engineering and healthcare.
As John A. Rogers, the lead engineer on the project, explains, micro-robots could be used to help build or repair structures or machines, making the processes much easier and potentially more reliable.
Those are not the only potential uses of microscopic robots.
Rogers explains that they could be used “as surgical assistants to clear clogged arteries, to stop internal bleeding or to eliminate cancerous tumors”.
The use of tiny, precise robots could help make these procedures less invasive, as they offer surgeons the opportunity to avoid making large incisions.
The engineering team also created the smallest human-made flying machine with the release of a winged microchip.
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