Cornell Engineers Create Sub-Millimeter Robots That Morph on Command
Cornell University researchers reveal microscopic "metasheet" robots that change shape and crawl when zapped with electricity. The kirigami-inspired machines expand or contract up to 40% of their size.
Cornell University researchers unveil microscopic "metasheet" robots that transform into pre-determined shapes and crawl around when an electric current is applied. Inspired by both biological organisms and kirigami, a variation of origami that involves cutting alongside folding, these tiny machines represent a significant leap in miniature robotics.
The robots earn their "metasheet" name from their metamaterial makeup, which consists of 100 panels of 10-nanometer silicon dioxide connected by tiny hinges. When electricity flows through the system, it triggers an electrochemical reaction that causes the robot to expand or contract by up to 40% of its overall size.
This innovative design allows the sub-millimeter robots to achieve complex movement and shape-shifting without the bulky mechanical parts traditionally required in robotics. As the technology develops, these electrochemically driven metamaterials open up new possibilities for navigating extremely tight spaces and performing targeted tasks at the microscale.