July 9, 2010

UW Microbot Creeps Like Centipede

What began as a prototype microchip for a thin printer, then became modified as a docking system for satellites, has morphed into a robot that resembles a centipede. University of Washington professor Karl Böhringer and team are working on the microbot that has 512 feet arranged in sets of four, with each foot an electric wire between two materials. When currents hit the wires, the feet curl and shuffle like cilia 20 to 30 times per second.

Where does all this lead? Perhaps to a mobile device that can travel through cracks to explore where larger bots cannot go as it is only about 1 x 1/3" and weighs about half a gram. More of Dr. Böhringer's research can be found in the June issue of the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.

Via US News