"Ant robots" promise to become breakthrough medical tools

A research team from Hanyang University (South Korea) has just launched a super small robot with a size of micrometers and can coordinate activities like an ant colony.

These microrobots are made using molds and epoxy resins embedded with ferromagnetic alloys, which allow the robots to be “programmed” to form different configurations after being exposed to strong magnetic fields from certain angles. The microrobots can then be controlled by external magnetic fields to perform rotations or other movements.

In the experiment, the researchers controlled 1,000 microrobots to coordinate to overcome challenges such as climbing over obstacles 5 times higher than each individual's height, forming a raft floating on water, going through a clogged pipe, transporting a pill weighing 2,000 times the weight of each individual through liquid... The research results show that this type of "ant robot" has great potential to become a breakthrough medical tool in the future, with applications such as revascularization or transporting drugs to a specific target in the human body.

Experiment shows that a colony of “ant robots” forms a raft floating on water. Photo: HANYANG UNIVERSITY

“Although the results are promising, swarm robots will need a higher level of autonomy before they are ready for practical applications,” said Jeong Jae Wie, a member of the research team. Currently, the swarm robots still rely on external magnetic control and are not yet capable of autonomously navigating through complex or narrow spaces, so the team is still focusing on improving their autonomy.

Commenting on New Scientist, researcher Xiaoguang Dong from Vanderbilt University (USA) said that these magnetic microrobots are promising tools for minimally invasive drug delivery in small, enclosed and confined spaces in the body. In addition to improving the robot's autonomy, Mr. Dong said that the research team also needs to address safety challenges, such as coating human-friendly materials on "potentially toxic" magnetic particles. If safe, according to Mr. Dong, these robots could effectively navigate to targeted disease areas and deliver drugs locally, making treatments more precise and effective.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/robot-kien-hua-hen-thanh-cong-cu-y-khoa-dot-pha-196241220213710658.htm