A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan has successfully developed a fully autonomous robot that's smaller than a grain of salt, measuring less than 1 millimeter in size. Weighing just a few grams, this tiny aquatic robot can swim underwater for months powered only by light.
The propulsion system is a game-changer. By generating an electric field around itself and gently pushing charged particles in the liquid, the robot creates a water current that propels it forward. This method avoids the challenges of small arms and legs being fragile and difficult to manufacture, as well as the problems posed by the laws of physics in the microscopic world.
The robot's electronic sensor can detect minute temperature changes, but since its microscopic body can't carry robust communications components, it uses a method borrowed from the insect kingdom to transmit data. This is achieved through "dance moves," where the robot translates its sensor readings into movements that researchers use to decode information.
Each individual robot has a complete onboard computer with a processor, memory, and sensors, allowing it to receive and execute instructions autonomously. The team's achievement could have significant applications in areas such as helping doctors monitor individual cells or engineers assembling tiny devices.
The development of this autonomous aquatic robot is a major breakthrough in robotics and highlights the potential for innovation in the field of miniaturization.
The propulsion system is a game-changer. By generating an electric field around itself and gently pushing charged particles in the liquid, the robot creates a water current that propels it forward. This method avoids the challenges of small arms and legs being fragile and difficult to manufacture, as well as the problems posed by the laws of physics in the microscopic world.
The robot's electronic sensor can detect minute temperature changes, but since its microscopic body can't carry robust communications components, it uses a method borrowed from the insect kingdom to transmit data. This is achieved through "dance moves," where the robot translates its sensor readings into movements that researchers use to decode information.
Each individual robot has a complete onboard computer with a processor, memory, and sensors, allowing it to receive and execute instructions autonomously. The team's achievement could have significant applications in areas such as helping doctors monitor individual cells or engineers assembling tiny devices.
The development of this autonomous aquatic robot is a major breakthrough in robotics and highlights the potential for innovation in the field of miniaturization.
But seriously, this tech has huge potential for medicine and engineering. Imagine being able to monitor cells or assemble tiny devices without human intervention... it's like a whole new world of possibilities 
Can you even believe these robots are smaller than a grain of salt?! I mean, think about it, we're talking micro-machines that can swim underwater for months on just light power! 
- who knew insect movements could be the key to robotic innovation?! This tiny robot tech has so much potential, especially in medical research and manufacturing industries... I'm all for the miniaturization revolution! 
And the fact that they're powered by light is just wild 
. But what really gets me is the potential for this tech to be used in medical and engineering fields. Like, think about it - tiny robots that can navigate through blood vessels or assemble teeny-tiny devices? It's like having a whole new world of possibilities! 
. I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY THINGS WE COULD DO WITH THESE LITTLE GUYS... LIKE HELPING DOCTORS CHECK OUT CANCER CELLS OR EVEN BUILDING TINY DEVICES THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN TOUCH 
! THE WAY IT TRANSMITS DATA BY MOVING AROUND IS SO COOL - I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A FREAKIN' MARINE BIOLOGY MUSEUM 
. AND THE FACT THAT IT'S POWERED BY LIGHT? WHO NEEDS BATTERIES WHEN YOU GOT SUNLIGHT?! 
they're using "dance moves" lol what's next, robots that do the cha cha slide to send messages 
and instead of using legs, they used electric field to move... genius 
I mean, think about how many variables there are – water pressure, currents, marine life... it's a whole different world down there. And what happens when the light source gets turned off or starts to degrade? 
I wonder what other uses we'll have for these little robots in the future?
that can swim underwater for months 
using light only 
and we're already seeing so many cool applications 
, and the fact that it can detect tiny temperature changes 
is mind-blowing 
. I'm low-key excited for what's next 
!
I was talking to my cousin who's into robotics and he's super stoked about this breakthrough. He says it could lead to some major advancements in medicine and engineering. Like, being able to monitor cells or assemble tiny devices... the possibilities are endless! 
she'd LOVE it!!! I wonder what kind of cool things we could do with a robot that small... like, could we use it to deliver medicine or something? 
The way it uses light power is so cool too! Like, isn't science amazing?! 
️, which means it doesn't need batteries or fuel, just sunlight! That's awesome.
... called "dance moves". Haha, that's so cool!
. It's like magic! And the fact that it can swim for months on just light power is insane!