The biggest limitation with small robots is, of course, their size. The smaller the robot, the harder it is to design components. One of the biggest challenges is finding a power source. Some systems use clever workarounds, like these cell-sized bots that use a photodiode to access the tiny amount of electricity they need to do their job. But more advanced systems require their own power source.
MIT this week unveiled tiny batteries specifically designed to power these systems, which can perform tasks as diverse as delivering drugs to the human body or checking pipelines for gas leaks. The power source is 0.1 millimeters long and 0.002 millimeters thick — about the thickness of a hair.
Despite their barely perceptible size, the batteries can generate up to 1 volt, according to the researchers, which can be used to power a sensor, a circuit or even a moving actuator.
“We believe this will advance robotics tremendously,” explained Professor Michael Strano, lead author of the study. “We are building robotic functions into the battery and starting to assemble these components into devices.”
The systems are currently connected to an external device, but the researchers are confident they can develop a version of the power source that is completely enclosed within the small robot. The team is also working on increasing the voltage that the system can generate.
“This will be at the core of many of our robotics efforts,” Strano added. “You can build a robot around an energy source, much like you can build an electric car around the battery.”
