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A tiny robot with "caterpillar" legs and the equivalent strength of a human capable of easily lifting a 26-seat mini-bus could also be used to administer medications inside the human body.
The researchers say the robot is able to withstand relatively heavy loads and adapt to adverse environments and could pave the way for technological breakthroughs.
They claim that it can move effectively inside the body's surfaces covered with body fluids such as blood or mucus or immersed in them.
But what distinguishes the "mill-robot" are its hundreds of pointed legs less than a millimeter long that look like tiny hair.
(Image: City Kingdom of Hong Kong / SWNS.COM)
The research team of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) had studied the leg structure of hundreds of terrestrial animals, including those with two, four, eight or more, especially the ratio of the length legs and the space between the legs.
Professor Shen Yajing, head of research at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at CityU (BME), said, "Most animals have a length-to-gap ratio of 2: 1 to 1: 1. So we decided to create our robot using 1: 1 proportion.
The thickness of the body of the robot is about 0.15 mm, each conical leg measuring 0.65 mm long and the gap between the legs about 0.6 mm, this which makes the length-gap-length ratio about 1: 1.
Dr. Shen stated that the robot's sharp legs had "dramatically reduced" their contact area and thus the friction with the surface.
Laboratory tests showed that the multi-legged robot had 40 times less friction than a robot without arms in a wet and dry environment.
(Image: City Kingdom of Hong Kong / SWNS.COM)
In addition to the multi-limbed design, Dr. Shen said the materials also matter.
The robot is made with a silicon-based material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) incorporating magnetic particles that allow it to be remotely controlled by applying an electromagnetic force.
Professor Wang Zuankai, who devised the research idea, said, "The materials and multi-leg design greatly enhance the hydrophobic property of the robot.
"In addition, the rubber part is soft and can be easily cut to form robots of various shapes and sizes for different applications."
Controlled by a magnetic manipulator used in experiments, the robot can move in both a flanged propulsion model and in an inverted pendulum, which means that it can use its front foot to switch to the other. before or towards the back. alternatively to advance respectively.
Professor Wang said, "The rough surface and the changing texture of the different tissues inside the human body make transportation difficult.
"Our multi-legged robot displays impressive performance on different terrains and thus opens wide applications for the delivery of medications inside the body."
(Image: City Kingdom of Hong Kong / SWNS.COM)
The research team also proved that the robot, with its flexible and deformable legs, is able to lift one end of its body against an obstacle ten times longer than its legs and to form a 90-degree angle. obstacle easily.
And this can increase its speed by increasing the electromagnetic frequency applied.
The researchers said the robot also shows a "remarkable" loading capacity.
Laboratory tests have shown that he is able to withstand a load 100 times heavier than him, a force comparable to that of an ant, one of the strongest creatures in nature, or a human being able to lift easily a mini-bus of 26 places. .
Dr. Shen said: "The surprisingly strong transport capacity, the efficient locomotion and the good obstacle clearance make this milli-robot extremely suitable for applications in a hostile environment, for example by delivering a drug to medical inspection.
Before carrying out other tests in animals and possibly in humans, the research teams develop and refine their research in three ways, namely to find a biodegradable material, to study new forms and to add additional features.
Dr. Shen added, "We hope to create a biodegradable robot over the next two to three years so that it decomposes naturally after its delivery mission."
The robot has been described in the journal Nature Communications.
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