There is a new tiny robot is gearing up to join the ranks of microsurgeons. But the one is little enough to fit in your coin purse. Inspired by origami and pop-up books, this milliDelta bot measures mere millimeters when unfolded (roughly the size of almost a one cent coin). But, even at that scale, the miniature assistant packs flexible joints and bending, piezoelectric actuators that allow it to work with force, accuracy, and It moves so fast – up to 75 motions a second.
Its developed by Robert Wood’s team (from Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) claim it can perform a range of microsurgery and manufacturing tasks in compact spaces.
Unlike the current Delta robots, which scientists have been shrinking down to workspace use for years. The new bot is a swift operator. Delta robots currently available are only able to work at a few hertz, told Hayley McClintock, a Harvard researcher who helped design the device. “So for our robot to be able to draw circles at frequencies up to 75 Hz is quite impressive.”
Scientists have developed the latest bot using a technique called pop-up microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Allowing them to create a complex structure from flat pieces of materials. The same method was used to build the flying RoboBee. Next, up for the milliDelta bot, the researchers plan to improve its specification in to pin down its finalize design and add power and control electronics.
