this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
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48
Fully programmable microrobots operate at cellular scale using nanowatt power (interestingengineering.com)
submitted 4 hours ago by GreenTea@lemmy.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 6 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (1 children)

I always assumed nanoscale robots would need to be lithography-based. Seems that was right. On the other hand, I assumed a MEMS actuator… their solid state propulsion is very interesting.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Article is locked for me, but I'm assuming piezo crystals?

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

The robot’s electrokinetic propulsion exploits microscale physics. Platinum electrodes drive fluid flow with no moving parts at around 60 nanoamperes. Four electrodes enable translation, rotation, and arcing. They currently operate at 1 volt, but could reach 10 times faster speeds near water’s electrolysis limit.

Electric field propulsion, apparently

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I can only see the picture but from the scale they seem to be too big to be nanobots. They seem to be about 3 or 4 mm so they're not going in your blood vessels that's for sure.

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 9 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Haha that picture shows one on a finger. It’s literally half the size of a single ridge of your fingerprint. Like a speck of dust.