Microbots Use Magnetic Forces To Swim And Do Some Heavy Lifting

Physicists at the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have announced a new types of microbot that swims and can move around objects several times their own weight. The millimeter-sized microbots, called Asters, are made up of small particles that become active under magnetic force.

On their own the particles that make up the microbot aren’t particularly impressive, but when magnets are applied, the particles assemble and swim around. They can also create “jaws” to push around objects that are not magnetic. The bots are particularly interesting because they can reorganize or reassemble their parts with the application or removal of the magnetic force.

Check out the videos below to see the microbots in action.

(via Engadget)