Researchers create programmable, autonomous robots smaller than a grain of rice

A microrobot on a U.S. penny, showing scale. | Source: Michael Simari, University of Michigan

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan have created what they claimed are the world’s smallest fully programmable, autonomous robots. The robots are microscopic swimming machines that can independently sense and respond to their surroundings, operate for months, and cost just a penny each.

Barely visible to the naked eye, each robot measures about 200 by 300 by 50 micrometers.