>>171679, >>171680
Alex Adamov @Ysqander - A massive leap for microrobotics just dropped.
Penn and Michigan researchers have created the world's smallest programmable, self-moving robot.
The Scale:
Dimensions: ~200 x 300 x 50 micrometers.
It is smaller than a grain of salt and roughly the size of a single-celled organism (a Paramecium).
The "Brain" and Sensors:
Unlike past "nanobots" that were just passive particles moved by magnets, these are true machines.
Micro-Computer:
It carries its own processor and memory to store and execute code.
Environment Sensing:
It can detect variables like temperature and change its behavior based on what it "feels."
The Power
Requirement: It runs on just 75 nanowatts (one-billionth of a watt).
Source: It is light-powered via tiny on-board solar cells.
The Engine (No Moving Parts)
At this scale, water is as thick as honey. Traditional propellers are useless.