This Tiny Robot Can Take Vibration As A Power Source And Fight Diseases From The Inside

Scientists have long been looking for a way to make a robot that can operate inside the human body, and so far, they have had tons of problems. One of the most critical issues is a power source for it; they cannot equip these tiny robots with a big battery.

Recently, Georgia Tech researchers have created a minute robot that can move by tapping vibration from a wide range of sources, be it speakers or ultrasound.

What they did was to 3D print the body of the bot with legs shaped like bristles and gave it a small-scale piezoelectric actuator.

The bot measures only 2mm (0.08in) in length with the weight of 5mg. Despite the tiny size, the bot can move at a pretty quick pace, reaching 8mm/second. Their actuators made use of lead zirconate titanate, which can generate vibration by using voltage as well as the other way around when they need power for their sensors.

This current design is far from fulfilling what scientists hope for it. The bot can only move to one direction, and it does not have a payload. The first issue can be addressed by attaching different bots together; each of them responds to a specific frequency. In the future, these experts hope that they can make bots that can swim and jump.

Potential practical applications for these bots are many. If scientists can develop them to the point they hope for, we may see them fixing our bodies from within without the need for operation. Other possible tasks they can handle are moving tiny objects or keeping track of environmental conditions.