Engineers installed brains on robots ranging in size from 100 to 250 microns, powered by solar energy. Innovation
The size and device of the robot. Image: Michael F. Reynolds, Science Robotics
Recently, scientists have created manymicrorobots, but all of them required external devices for movement. Wires carrying current, magnetic field or laser action. The new device is the first that can work autonomously.
The "brain" of the new robots isa complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) structure that contains a thousand transistors, as well as an array of diodes, resistors, and capacitors. An integrated CMOS circuit generates a signal that creates a series of square waves that define the robot's gait. The robot's legs are platinum-based actuators. Both the circuitry and the legs are powered by photovoltaic cells.
In a sense, the electronics are very simple.This clock design is not a leap forward in circuit capability. But all electronics must be designed to have very low power consumption so that we don't have to put in huge photovoltaic cells to power the circuit.
Itai Cohen, professor of physics and study co-author
The movement of one of the robots under the microscope. Video: Michael F. Reynolds, Science Robotics
To demonstrate the capabilities of the systemscientists have assembled three experimental robots. A bipedal creature, a four-legged "dog" and a six-legged "ant". All devices have been successfully tested. At the same time, new robots are about 10 thousand times smaller than macro robots with built-in CMOS electronics, and can move at speeds of more than 10 microns/s.
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