Microrobots engineered from self-propelling active particles, extend the reach of robotic operations to submillimeter dimensions and are becoming increasingly relevant for various tasks, such as manipulation of micro/nanoscale cargo, particularly targeted drug delivery. However, achieving deep-tissue penetration and drug delivery remain a challenge. This work developed a novel biohybrid microrobot consisting of jellyfish stinging capsules, which act as natural nanoinjectors for efficient penetration and delivery, assembled onto an active Janus particle (JP). While microrobot transport and navigation was externally controlled by magnetic field-induced rolling, capsule loading onto the JP surface was controlled by electric field. Following precise navigation of the biohybrid microrobots to the vicinity of target tissues, the capsules were activated by a specific enzyme introduced to the solution, which then triggered tubule ejection and release of the preloaded molecules. Use of such microrobots for penetration of and delivery of the preloaded drug/toxin to targeted cancer spheroids and live Caenorhabditis elegans was demonstrated in-vitro. The findings offer insights for future development of bio-inspired microrobots capable of deep penetration and drug delivery. Future directions may involve encapsulation of various drugs within different capsule types for enhanced versatility. This study may also inspire in-vivo applications involving deep tissue drug delivery.

Okay, I know what you're probably thinking. We've been hearing about the use of tiny robots in medicine for years, maybe even decades. Where are my medical microbots already? They're coming, says Brad Nelson, who works in robotics at ETH Zürich. And they could be a game changer for a number of serious diseases.

The study of dynamics of single active particles plays an important role in the development of artificial or hybrid micro-systems for bio-medical and other applications at micro-scale. Here, we utilize the results of these studies to better understand their implications for the specific application of drug delivery. We analyze the variations in the capture efficiency for different types of motion dynamics without inter-particle interactions and compare the results. We also discuss the reasons for the same and describe the specific parameters that affect the capture efficiency, which in turn helps in both hardware and control design of a micro-bot swarm system for drug delivery.

Bubble-like microbots have been tracked moving inside the brain of a living mouse as they were steered by ultrasound. "While the mouse is under the microscope, we can see the small particles moving in the blood," says Daniel Ahmed at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. "Without real-time tracking – it's super difficult to know what you are doing inside there."

Industrial robots are taking over. In fact, according to a report by the International Federation of Robotics, the number of robots in factories has almost doubled in recent years. The 2021 World Robot Report shows that the global number of robots per 10,000 employees has risen from 66 to 126 between 2015–2020. So which sectors are reaping the rewards? Here, we'll explore just this, shining a light on industries benefiting the most from robotics.

What these tiny robots can do will amaze you! There is a robotic revolution underway and unfortunately, we are somewhat distracted to witness it. From microbot swarms that could shapeshift, walk, fly, swim, climb, crawl and organize themselves to do various tasks, deliver drugs in our bodies, identify cancers, destroy tumours, these are the kind of stuff that dreams are made of. And all these have been a possibility thanks to the latest advances in nanotechnology, computing, electronics, and mechanics. Here are those most advanced, creative, and enigmatic microbots that you never knew existed and would make life so much easier for us.

If I were to picture futuristic bots that could revolutionize both microrobotics and medicine, a Pop-Tart with four squiggly legs would not be on top of my list. Last week, Drs. Marc Miskin*, Itai Cohen, and Paul McEuen at Cornell University spearheaded a collaboration that tackled one of the most pressing problems in microrobotics--getting those robots to move in a controllable manner. They graced us with an army of Pop-Tart-shaped microbots with seriously tricked-out actuators, or motors that allow a robot to move. In this case, the actuators make up the robot's legs. Each smaller than the width of a human hair, the bots have a blocky body equipped with solar cells and two pairs of platinum legs, which can be independently triggered to flex using precise laser zaps.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a new type of tiny 3D-printed robot that moves by harnessing the vibration from piezoelectric actuators, ultrasound sources or even tiny speakers. The size of the world's smallest ant, these "micro-bristle-bots" could sense changes in the environment and swarm together to move materials--or perhaps one day repair injuries inside the human body. Prototypes of the robot respond to different vibration frequencies depending on their configurations, which allows researchers to control individual bots by adjusting the vibration. Though they are only 2 millimeters long, the bots can cover four times their own length in a second. The micro-bristle-bots consist of a piezoelectric actuator glued onto a polymer body that is 3D printed using two-photon polymerization lithography (TPP).

When it comes to robots, science fiction has conditioned us to think of androids – bipedal machines approximating the human form. But the next generation of robots may be based on very different types of animals: snakes, flies, locusts and even the multi-tentacle octopus. Israeli scientists are hard at work on just such contraptions. Here's a look at seven of the most fascinating designs that can help with everything from exploring our insides to cleaning up the mess we make on the planet. Medrobotics' signature product, the Flex Robotic System, allows physicians to reach deep into the body with minimal risk.

When we think about automation, typical examples -- factory floor robotics, spam filters, and automated software testing tools -- often come to mind. But what if automation could be given a dramatic upgrade, one made more intelligent by integrating these tools with machine learning (ML) technologies? Imagine a world in which automation tools watch how we work, then use artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights to tell us how to work better (or upgrade our work efforts for us) on the fly. It's not a fantasy: Intelligent automation is arriving now, and it will profoundly change how we work. Today, automation tools are largely isolated and segmented into their own fiefdoms.