These Tiny Vehicles Are Being Driven By Something You'd Never Guess
What did Richard Feynman imagine for the future of microrobots?
In 1959, theoretical physicist Richard Feynman envisioned a future where microrobots would swim through our bloodstreams, repairing our insides and delivering drugs1. Today, scientists are closer to realizing this vision, as engineers at the University of Tokyo have developed a way to motorize microscopic structures without an external power source by using single-celled organisms as "itty-bitty horses" hitched to a chariot1.
How have University of Tokyo engineers advanced microrobotics?
University of Tokyo engineers have advanced microrobotics by developing a way to motorize tiny microscopic structures without an external power source. They used free-moving, single-celled green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to pull machines five times larger than their own size. These living motors can move autonomously, opening possibilities for complex micromachine development.
What unique solution did Japanese engineers use for powering micromachines?
Japanese engineers harnessed the swift swimming abilities of the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to power micromachines1. Each cell of C. reinhardtii is only 10 micrometers in width but can pull machines five times larger than their individual size1. These living motors can move autonomously, offering a unique solution for the development of complex micromachines.