ISLAMABAD: Scientists in the United States have developed a robot smaller than a grain of salt that can independently sense, think and act, solving an engineering challenge that has persisted for more than 40 years.
The microscopic robot was created by research teams from the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. It integrates computing, sensing and movement at an unprecedented scale, a feat long thought impossible by engineers.
Equipped with a 55-nanometre computer, highly sensitive temperature sensors accurate to within 0.3 degrees Celsius, and tiny motors powered by platinum electrodes, the robot can move through liquid environments. It is powered by miniature solar cells and protected by a glass-like coating, allowing it to function without any external control.
Lead researcher Marc Miskin described the device as the first robot of its size capable of autonomously “sensing, thinking and acting,” a claim supported by its advanced technical design.
Researchers believe the innovation could transform medical science. Potential applications include targeted drug delivery through the bloodstream, repairing damaged nerves, and real-time monitoring of cell health. Scientists estimate that practical medical uses could become possible within the next decade as the technology progresses beyond laboratory conditions, according to Express Tribune.
David Blaauw from the University of Michigan noted that while early results are promising, major challenges remain. The robots must be made biocompatible and adapted to function in complex environments such as saltwater or on land, as current tests are limited to freshwater settings.
Despite their advanced capabilities, the robots are relatively accessible. Researchers said high school students were able to operate them using a basic $10 microscope.
Looking ahead, scientists plan to develop swarms of these micro-robots capable of communicating and working together. Johns Hopkins University researcher David Gracias has suggested that such technology could eventually transform surgery, and over the next century, may even replace human surgeons, though he cautioned that significant regulatory and technological barriers remain.
