Robotics is a constantly evolving field. There are new technological advances every few months that make it possible for robotic engineers to create new designs all the time. Needless to say some robots have been crucial for the purpose they have been designed, while others merely a good source of entertainment for the users.

At the University of Texas, San Antonio, nanorobots were created by Soutik Betal as part of his doctoral research. They were merely 120 nano meters large. These small robots were remotely controlled by an electromagnetic field. They also have the distinction of being the world record holders of being the smallest medical robots. Certainly a science project for the books!

The robots interact with biological cells and can be used in the future to help treat patients with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. They are composed of two parts – the core and the shell – both of which are made of multifunctional oxide materials. The core is magnetic and can change shape when magnetic fields are introduced. The little robots can be used to align themselves with a cell, push cells into different locations, and even deliver medication to cells. Who knows what else they can be trained to do!