They’re not ants—they’re tiny robots! Scientists in South Korea have developed entire swarms of miniature magnetic robots that work together like ants, even lifting objects several times their own size.

Each microrobot measures around 600 micrometers and is made of an epoxy body embedded with neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) particles, allowing the swarm to be guided by magnetic fields. Thanks to this setup, these robots can accomplish complex tasks in challenging environments—such as performing minimally invasive procedures on clogged arteries (as demonstrated in the video).

“Although the research results are promising, the swarms will need a higher degree of autonomy before they are ready for real-world applications. Magnetic microrobot swarms require external magnetic control and cannot autonomously navigate complicated or enclosed spaces like actual arteries. Future studies will focus on enhancing microrobot swarm autonomy, for example by controlling their movements and trajectories with real-time feedback,” says Professor Jeon Jae Wi from the Department of Organic and Nano Engineering at Hanyang University (Seoul, South Korea).

#science #robots