Microscopic robots walk autonomously using simple 'brains'

It has long been possible to make robots extremely small, but they usually need some form of direct external control just to function. However, Cornell scientists may have solved this problem at a basic level. They have created microrobots (no more than 250 micrometers in diameter) with basic electronic "brains" that allow them to walk independently. Two- and six-legged robots move relatively simply, while a four-legged "dogbot" changes speed when an operator sends out laser pulses.

The trick was to build a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (or CMOS, as computer enthusiasts know) clock circuit whose signal produces out-of-phase square wave frequencies that define gait platinum-based legs of the robot. The photovoltaic controls both the legs and the circuit. The design is far from complex with just 1,000 transistors (for context, a GeForce RTX 4090 has 76.3 billion), and it's still large enough to effectively serve as the robot's body. However, even that is a feat: the exceptionally low power demands saved Cornell from having to use relatively gigantic photovoltaic installations.

These inventions are a far cry from the more sophisticated large-scale autonomous robots you see today. They can move forward, but not much else. Researchers see this as a start, however. They think future microbots could be crucial for healthcare, where they could perform internal surgery and clean out your arteries. Elsewhere, they could detect chemicals and remove pollutants. Such bots are probably years away, but this project suggests they are technically possible.

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