The Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a micro-robot that can swim on the water surface, which can control movement through light and magnetic field.

CTOnews.com December 4 news, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Institute of Automation news, the Institute's micro-nano research group carried out innovative research, using template-assisted method to develop multi-stimulus response super-hydrophobic micro-robot.

According to reports, the micro-robot has a unit that senses infrared light and magnetic field inside, which can store chemical reagents, so that it can swim quickly on the water surface under the control of light field, magnetic field, etc.(i.e. multi-field drive).

The researchers evaluated the stability and environmental adaptability of the micro-robot, and the results showed that the robot could realize pre-programmed trajectory movement on the water surface, especially under the action of chemical reagents and magnetic field drive. The researchers further explored the possibility of realizing motion control of multiple robots under multi-field drive.

The results show that under the action of optical and magnetic fields, multiple robots can realize cooperative operation and can pick up structural blocks larger than their own size. With the improvement of preparation technology, the size of micro robot is expected to be further reduced, and it has application prospects in cell operation, biological tissue construction and other fields.

CTOnews.com understands that the related research results are published in ACS Nano under the title of Multistimuli-Responsive Hydroplaning Superhydrophobic Microbots with Programmable Motion and Multifunctional Applications.