Researchers from Northwestern University have succeeded in creating the world's smallest remote-controlled robot capable of walking. It is shaped like a small crab, only half a millimeter wide and can fit inside the rim of a coin.
Specifically, the smallest robot in the world can walk, crawl, bend, wriggle and even jump. According to research leader Yonggang Huang, the robot can walk at an average speed of half its body length per second.
The way it moves is arguably the most interesting aspect of the robot. Instead of relying on tiny electronics, the researchers used a special alloy material that changes shape when heated.
Using a precision laser, the researchers were able to quickly heat a specific part of the robot to make it change shape. A thin layer of glass helps cool the robot so that the robot can return to its original shape.
"Because this structure is so small, the cooling rate is very fast," said John Rogers, a materials scientist at Northwestern University.
He added that reducing the size of the robots actually allowed them to move faster.
"You can imagine this microrobot would help us repair or assemble structures or small machines in industry or in medical surgery to open blocked arteries, stop internal bleeding or remove cancerous tumors without surgery like before." said Roger.
Currently, the research is still in an experimental stage but is likely to change as more progress is made. The researchers published their findings in the journal Science Robotics.