Scientists have revealed a tiny origami robot that can fold itself, walk and self destruct.
The robot has been presented at the ICRA or International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 2015 by the scientist from Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT along with Technische Universität München or TU Munich.
Scientists believe that his new technology can be used in medicines where it can be utilized to help doctors with critical surgery.
This invention was developed by a team led by Shuhei Miyashita from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence laboratory where the tiny robot measuring 1.7 cm and weighting just one third of the gram was developed.
The special feature of the robot is the neodymium magnet that is covered with polystyrene and PVS that allows the robot to take on a form that is similar to origami when heat is applied to it.
When the heat is applied at different degrees, the robot can fold into numerous processes and multi stages.
For the movement of robot, external magnetic field as opposed to a set of wires is used. This magnetic field involves four coils that serve as a guide towards its path. The magnets provide power to the robot to move which is cycling at 15 hertz.
Depending on the task, the robot can walk, roll and it can also be disintegrated when exposed to acetone.
Scientists are designing and experimenting on some material for robot so that it can also be dissolved in water.
Scientists are planning to create another robot version of this shape shifter with sensors so that it can operate autonomously.
Researchers are hoping to use this innovation for medical surgeries where it can be inserted inside a human body through blood stream where it can perform the medical task and when the job is done, dissolve away into the stomach.
This robot can also be used in space mission where it can collect small samples and specimens within small cracks on a planet’s surface.