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Microrobot Swarms Achieve Ant-Like Coordination for Heavy Lifting and Medical Tasks

South Korean researchers develop magnetic microrobots capable of collaborative feats, from transporting heavy objects to navigating confined spaces for potential medical applications.

Overview

  • Scientists in South Korea have created cube-shaped microrobots, each 600 micrometers tall, that work together under a rotating magnetic field to perform complex tasks.
  • The robots demonstrated the ability to climb obstacles five times their height, form floating rafts, and transport objects up to 2,000 times their individual weight.
  • Applications include potential minimally invasive medical uses, such as unblocking blood vessels and delivering drugs to targeted locations in the human body.
  • The robots are produced using a cost-effective mass production method, ensuring uniformity in geometry and magnetic properties for reliable performance.
  • Future research aims to enhance the autonomy of these microrobots, enabling them to navigate complex environments without external magnetic control.