summary of the Article: World’s Smallest Programmable, Autonomous Robots
This article details the creation of the world’s smallest programmable, autonomous robots, developed jointly by researchers at Penn Engineering and the University of Michigan.Thes robots are smaller than a grain of salt and represent a significant breakthrough in micro-robotics.
key Highlights:
* Size & Autonomy: The robots are sub-millimeter in size and can operate autonomously thanks to a complete onboard computer.
* Power Challenge: A major hurdle was powering the robot with extremely limited energy – only 75 nanowatts from tiny solar panels (over 100,000 times less than a smartwatch).
* Innovative Solutions:
* Low-Voltage Circuits: The Michigan team developed circuits that function at extremely low voltages, reducing power consumption by over 1000 times.
* condensed Programming: Researchers drastically simplified the computer program instructions to fit the limited memory space.
* “Thinking” Capability: This is the first sub-millimeter robot capable of “thinking” – integrating a processor, memory, and sensors.
* Sensing & Reacting: The robots can sense temperature variations (within 0.3°C) and react accordingly, perhaps allowing for monitoring of individual cell health.
* Potential Applications: The robots could advance medicine by monitoring cellular activity and overall health.
* Movement: The robots move by manipulating ions around them using an electrical field.
In essence, the article showcases a remarkable feat of engineering that pushes the boundaries of miniaturization and autonomous robotics, opening up exciting possibilities for future applications in fields like medicine and beyond.
