Cornell Researchers Develop World's Smallest Walking Robots for Microscopic Imaging

These 2-5 micron robots, controlled by magnetic fields, enable groundbreaking optical and force measurement capabilities at the microscale.

Cornell University scientists have created walking robots measuring just 2 to 5 microns, breaking their own record for the smallest robots previously set at 40-70 microns.
The robots can interact with visible light, functioning as diffraction elements to enable super-resolution microscopy and precise imaging at scales previously unattainable.
Magnetically controlled, the robots can move independently on solid surfaces or through fluids, using an inchworm-like motion for navigation.
These robots can act as local extensions of microscopes, shaping light for imaging and measuring forces at microscopic levels, with potential applications in DNA research and clinical diagnostics.
The breakthrough combines microrobotics and optical engineering, opening new possibilities for basic research and sensing tasks in biological and medical fields.