Scientists Have Built The Lightest, Fully Functional Robot To Date: Modeled On Insects, As Light As 8 Mg

According to reports, they weigh 8 milligrams and 55 milligrams respectively, and can move at a speed of 6 millimeters per second. They are expected to be used in fields such as artificial pollination, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, micro-manufacturing or robot-assisted surgery in the future.

The research team pointed out that the "secret weapon" of these two microrobots is the microactuator that allows them to move. Using new manufacturing techniques, they miniaturized the actuator to weigh less than 1 milligram, making it the smallest and fastest-moving actuator known to date developed for a microrobot.



Shape memory alloys are generally not used for large robot motion because they are too slow. The actuator is made from two tiny shape-memory alloy wires 1/1000 of an inch in diameter. With just a small amount of electrical current, the wires can be easily heated and cooled, allowing the robot to flap its fins up to 40 times per second or Move your feet. In preliminary tests, the actuator was also able to lift 150 times its own weight.