In a breakthrough study, scientists have successfully created tiny, living robots from human cells. The groundbreaking experiment, conducted in France, reveals a potential future where this robotic technology could be used to combat disease and save lives.
The tiny robots, or ‘xenobots’, were created from frog embryonic stem cells and measure only around 2 mm in length. These robots have been programmed to move towards a target and can live for up to ten days on their own. The research team claims that these robots are the first living machines which are made entirely from organic materials.
The creation of these tiny robots was achieved through a computational approach known as ‘evolutionary robotics’. This analysis combines data from natural selection and machine learning to program robots built from living components. In this case, the frog embryonic stem cells were used to build the ‘muscle’ of the robots, and the cells were programmed to move by using electric and chemical signals.
The potential for these tiny robots is almost limitless. Scientists have suggested that these robots could be used in biomedical research, to deliver medicines in hard-to-reach places, or even to collect toxins from the environment. As the study continues, researchers are also looking for ways to improve the design of the robots, such as making them even smaller and giving them more complex capabilities.
This research is a major advance in the field of robotics and could open up new possibilities for the development of biotechnology. The study presents exciting possibilities for our future, and it will be interesting to see how these tiny robots can be used to improve our lives.