What if robots could work together like ants to move objects, clear blockages, and guide living creatures? Discover more!
Scientists at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea, have developed small magnetic robots that work together in swarms to perform complex tasks, such as moving and lifting objects much more significant than themselves. These microrobot swarms, controlled by a rotating magnetic field, can be used in challenging environments, offering solutions for tasks like minimally invasive treatments for clogged arteries and guiding small organisms.
The researchers tested how microrobot swarms with different configurations performed various tasks. They discovered that swarms with a high aspect ratio could climb obstacles five times higher than a single robot’s body length and throw themselves over them. In another demonstration, a swarm of 1,000 microrobots formed a raft on water, surrounding a pill 2,000 times heavier than a single robot, allowing the swarm to transport the drug through the liquid. On land, a swarm moved cargo 350 times heavier than each robot, while another swarm unclogged tubes resembling blocked blood vessels. Using spinning and orbital dragging motions, the team also developed a system where robot swarms could guide the movements of small organisms.
