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Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan have developed a microrobot smaller than a grain of salt that can sense its surroundings, process information, and move independently. The study, published in the journal Science Robotics, describes a sub-millimeter robot that integrates a tiny computer, sensors, a motor, and a propulsion system into a single device—an important advance toward autonomous machines operating at microscopic scales. The work includes contributions from researchers such as Marc Miskin of UPenn and David Blaauw of the University of Michigan.
Unlike earlier microrobots that depended on external control, this device can make basic decisions on its own. It is powered by miniature solar cells and “swims” through liquid by creating small flows in the surrounding water using electrodes. Although its onboard computer is extremely simple compared with modern electronics, it is sufficient to let the robot respond to changes like temperature, putting it on a functional scale similar to single-celled organisms.
In the long term, the researchers say such microrobots could be used inside the human body to deliver drugs, repair tissues, or access hard-to-reach areas without surgery. The current version is still experimental and not suitable for clinical use, but the team believes real-world applications could emerge within the next decade. A key next challenge is enabling many of these tiny robots to communicate with each other, allowing coordinated activity inside biological environments.
