Scientists in South Korea have created swarms of tiny magnetic robots that can work together like ants to perform tasks far beyond what any single robot could do.
These microrobot swarms, controlled by a rotating magnetic field, can climb over obstacles, carry heavy loads, and even unclog blocked tubes.
The research, published on December 18 in the journal Device, shows how these swarms could one day take on challenging tasks, such as delivering drugs through clogged arteries or guiding tiny organisms with precision.
How the robot swarms work
The robots are inspired by the teamwork of ants, which can build bridges, form rafts, and carry objects much larger than themselves. Similarly, these microrobots join forces to achieve impressive feats.
Each robot is only 600 micrometers tall—about the width of six human hairs—and is made of epoxy embedded with tiny magnetic particles. These particles allow the robots to respond to magnetic fields and interact with one another. When exposed to a rotating magnetic field, the robots come together to form swarms.
By adjusting the magnetic field’s angle, researchers can change the shape and behavior of the swarm to suit different tasks.
Mighty feats of teamwork
The study found that the swarms could tackle a variety of tasks in different environments:
- Climbing obstacles: Swarms with long, narrow shapes climbed over barriers five times the height of a single microrobot. The robots worked together to push and pull each other over the obstacle.
- Transporting cargo: On water, a swarm of 1,000 microrobots formed a floating raft and carried a pill 2,000 times the weight of each individual robot. On land, another swarm transported objects 350 times heavier than a single robot.
- Unclogging tubes: The robots were able to clear blockages in tubes similar to clogged blood vessels, showing potential for medical use.
- Guiding small organisms: The robots used spinning and dragging motions to guide the movements of tiny organisms, which could lead to new biological applications.
What makes these robots special
Unlike previous studies that used spherical robots, these swarms are made of cube-shaped microrobots. The flat faces of the cubes allow stronger magnetic connections, making the swarms more effective.
The robots are also cost-effective to produce, thanks to a simple molding process that ensures consistent size and magnetic properties.
While the swarms show great potential, they currently need an external magnetic field to function and cannot navigate complex spaces like real arteries on their own.
In the future, researchers aim to make the swarms more autonomous by adding real-time feedback and better motion control. This could pave the way for exciting real-world applications in medicine, engineering, and beyond.
These tiny robots, much like ants, prove that teamwork truly makes the dream work.
