Science

Magnet Fibers Self-Assemble to Form Micro-Robot

Magnets make life easier and serve many unseen functions in daily operations. But the usefulness of magnets on the micro scale is still being discovered.

Scientists at Arrgone National Laboratory working with tiny magnetic particles were able to create what the deemed “micro-robots,” controlled by magnetic currents. Micro-robots, also dubbed “asters” for their flower-like formation  when self assembled, were able to pick up, transport and put down non-magnetic objects. Applications for such a function could include micro-manufacturing operations.

Watch this video where the aster ushers around a piece of glass four times its size.

And this one where it acts like a vacuum cleaner enveloping and moving other particles.

“They can exert very small forces on objects, which is a big challenge for robotics,” physicist Igor Aronson explained on Argonne’s website. “Gripping fragile objects without smashing them has always been difficult for conventional robots.”

As explained by Popular Science, the scientists put the magnetic particles between water and oil. Without a magnetic field applied they floated aimlessly, but when an alternating field was applied perpendicular to the liquid, the particles banded together. Applying a parallel magnetic field made the asters swim, according to Aronson and Alexey Snezhko. By changing this magnetic field Aronson and Snezhko were able to control these micro-robots.

Comments (16)

  • Nathan
    Posted on August 13, 2011 at 1:24am

    Just read Prey by Michael Crichton last year. Yeah, let’s not go there.

    Report Post »  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 7:25pm

    Resist we much!!!

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 7:25pm

    There not robots, they are fibers of magnets…IDIOTS

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • nappy
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 4:57pm

    Wow! AMAZING.. I see a new Etch-A-Sketch in our future!

    Report Post »  
  • handsmcml
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 3:47pm

    OK, this is a stretch, but is this the tech behind the Transformers? In practice, they would not really be made from spare car parts, but from nanobots that can reshape themselves into any kind of object. In a few generations, this kind of technology will amaze us all.

    Report Post » handsmcml  
    • Wilkins
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 12:23am

      In a few generations, this kind of technology will eat us, for materials to make new nano-robots. It’s the final phase in human evolution, where we become our technology.

      Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 3:41pm

    This may have incredible applications in the IC chip fabrication industry to remove harmful and potentially costly particles and contaminants….

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • JMJ I Love You
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 1:21pm

    I had one of these when I was sick as a child, I would make the man have a beard and mustache.

    Report Post » JMJ I Love You  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 12:32pm

    The scientist’s name is really “Igor”? Cool.

    Report Post »  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 8:17am

    Glad to see tax payer money at work…that’s the most incredible thing I have ever seen! I‘ll bet if it weren’t for Obama, we would never had known about little slivers of magnets that could move around a glass bead in liquid…Oh wait, I did the same thing in grade school as a science experiment 35 years ago…

    There is a small chance that a meteor will hit the earth in the future. With the world being what it is right now, I would mind that happening at all. The earth definitely needs some cleansing.

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • Ialmostforgot
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 8:17am

    Wow, thats really cool! Iron filings being controlled by magnets. What a concept!
    Boy this internet can really fool ya, eh?

    Report Post »  
  • raderby
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 3:53am

    uh…sort of like cell action in a living creature?

    Can these little mag-guys fix stupid? Oh, yeah right…… the person playing God, controlling the little flowers, is the decider. Never under estimate lab cool becoming big tool of the power hungry.

    Report Post » raderby  
  • Weiners Wiener
    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 1:30am

    Maybe they can float these around in Obama’s brain cavity to fix that loose screw…

    Report Post »  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love