Researchers from Georgia Tech have developed tiny 3D printed robots measuring about 2 mm in length that use micro bristle technology and vibrations to move around.

The teeny bots, produced using two-photon polymerization lithography (TPP), could have diverse applications, including detecting environmental changes, and repairing injuries inside the human body. The small robots, referred to as “micro-bristle-bots,” are reportedly about the size of the world’s smallest ant and have been designed to harness vibrations from piezoelectric actuators, ultrasound sources or small speakers to move around.

At this stage in the robot development, the Georgia Tech team has already succeeded in programming the 3D printed robots to respond differently to varying frequencies. In other words, the researchers can control the bots by adjusting the vibration. Despite their size, the robots can cover significant ground—moving up to four times their own length (about eight millimeters) in a second. This movement is […]

Click here to view original web page at www.3dprintingmedia.network