"Millirobots" are inspired by the capabilities of insects - Earth.com

"Millirobots" are inspired by the capabilities of insects

12-12-2022

Today’s Video of the Day from the American Chemical Society describes “millirobots,” tiny robots that are inspired by the walking and grabbing capabilities of insects.

Reporting in the journal ACS Applied Polymer Materials, a team of experts has developed a soft, biodegradable, magnetic millirobot. 

The new robot, which is about as wide as a finger, may ultimately be used to deliver drugs or perform minimally invasive surgery.

“Some soft millirobots are already being developed for a variety of biomedical applications, thanks to their small size and ability to be powered externally, often by a magnetic field,” says ACS. “Their unique structures allow them to inch or roll themselves through the bumpy tissues of our gastrointestinal tract, for example.” 

Video Credit: America Chemical Society 

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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