Overview
- Teams at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan report the results in Science Robotics, using a 55 nm CMOS process to batch-fabricate hundreds of devices on a single chip.
- Each robot measures roughly 210–270 micrometers and integrates photovoltaic power, a processor, a temperature sensor and on-chip actuators.
- Light pulses both power the robots and deliver individualized programs via unique identifiers, enabling reconfigurable tasks after fabrication.
- The bots demonstrated autonomous thermotaxis in laboratory fluids across 56 trials, sensing temperature changes and adjusting their motion without external control logic.
- Propulsion relies on ion-driven electrokinetic forces with no moving parts, supporting months-long operation at roughly penny-level cost, while researchers note future work toward fully wireless locomotion not tied to external light.