Micro-robotics development continues to bring new surprises, with one of the latest contributions in this field being robots smaller than one millimeter, based on kirigami. This miniature robot, which initially looks like a two-dimensional hexagonal 'meta sheet', transforms into a three-dimensional shape capable of movement and performing complex tasks with the help of electrical currents.

Kirigami, a technique similar to origami, allows this robot to fold and expand thanks to precise cuts in the material. Unlike origami, where excess material usually needs to be hidden within the sculpture, kirigami uses open sections to enable more efficient folding without losing material. This makes the kirigami robot capable of changing shapes and moving, making it an exceptionally versatile solution for future applications in various industries, including medicine and industrial automation.

One of the most impressive aspects of this technology is the precision with which the robot can fold and expand. It consists of about 100 silicon dioxide plates connected with more than 200 micro-joints, each only 10 nanometers thick. When electrically activated, the joints form ridges and valleys, allowing the robot to increase its surface area by up to 40%. This adaptability to different shapes opens doors to numerous potential applications, from micro-medical devices to reconfigurable machines capable of performing complex tasks in confined spaces.

New research directions

The development of kirigami robots is the result of years of research and collaboration by a team of scientists from Cornell University. Physics Professor Itai Cohen and his colleagues had previously developed microscopic robots that could autonomously walk and pump water using artificial cilia, and the kirigami robot is a logical next step in that process. This advancement allows robots not only to move but also to adapt their shape, making them more versatile and suitable for various applications.

One of the biggest challenges scientists faced was developing a way for the robot to navigate its environment autonomously. At the microscopic level, movement occurs in a manner similar to swimming through viscous fluids, like honey, where resistances are much higher than at the macroscopic level. The team managed to solve this problem by adapting the robot's shape, optimizing the contact points between the robot and the substrate, enabling more efficient movement without the need for friction.

Application possibilities

Kirigami robots open up possibilities for applications in various fields, from biomedical devices to new types of intelligent materials. By combining flexible mechanical structures with advanced electronic controllers, scientists predict the development of ultra-reactive 'elastronic' materials, which could have characteristics impossible to achieve in nature. These materials could be used to create adaptive micro-machines that could respond to stimuli almost at the speed of light, rather than sound, which would significantly improve the speed and precision of various industrial and medical applications.

In a medical context, these robots could be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, where their shape-changing ability would be crucial for manipulating tissues and organs. Additionally, in the exploration of new materials, elastronic robots could allow for rapid response to external stimuli, improving areas such as safety and manufacturing.

Further development of this technology could lead to the creation of intelligent materials that could change the way numerous processes occur in industry, from manufacturing to automation, and even in everyday items that could react to their environment.