Sunday, April 12, 2009 |
06:13 - First of the Hoverbots
http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=5055
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Via JMH:
WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, April 8, 2009) -- A University of Waterloo engineering research team has developed the world's first flying microrobot capable of manipulating objects for microscale applications.
The microrobot discovery provides researchers with more control over the microscale environment, allowing them to move and place tiny objects with far greater precision. The microscale deals with tiny objects, at levels that are too small to be manipulated by humans.
Behrad Khamesee, director of UW's Maglev (Magnetically Levitated) Microrobotics Laboratory, heads the team that built the prototype flying MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) robot.
The microrobot defies the force of gravity by flying or levitating, powered by a magnetic field. It moves around and dexterously manipulates objects with magnets attached to microgrippers, remotely controlled by a laser-focusing beam.
It can be used for micro-manipulation, a technique that enables precise positioning of micro objects. Applications of micro-manipulation include micro-assembly of mechanical components, handling of biological samples or even microsurgery.
Cool in and of itself, but the obvious question is whether and how it could be made to scale up to larger applications. My suspicion is "no" and "Didn't you hear me? I said no".
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