In one science fiction story written over a hundred years ago by pioneer writer Issac Asimov there is the description of a medical robot that can shrink to a microscopic size. The robot enters the human body by being swallowed like a pill. Then travels through the body to reach the location of the medical problem. It rectifies the problem using the load of medicine and minor surgery as required. After which it expels itself with such force from the human patient’s nostril that it literally shoots out into outer space.

The reason why this particular short story comes to my mind today is because of the robotic exoskeleton that robotics experts at the Cornell University have come up with. The exoskeleton can rapidly change its shape upon sensing chemical or thermal changes in its environment. It is also capable of carrying an electronic, photonic and chemical payload to be delivered when the machine is programmed to. Now doesn’t this sound so much like the science fiction story above?

The shape changing robotic exoskeleton is about the size of a human cell. It is made of graphene and glass with the ability to bend when a stimulus like heat, a chemical reaction or an applied voltage is applied. This is one science project that’s going to revolutionize the future of robotics.