In a breakthrough that may redefine the future of medical robotics, scientists have developed tiny living robots made entirely of human cells.
These new, “organism-inspired robots”—dubbed Xenobots—were created by a team of researchers from the University of Vermont, Tufts University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. To construct them, the team harvested skin and heart cells from African frog embryos, and programmed them using computer models and a 3D-printer.
The result is a set of tiny, self-contained robots, about the size of a penny, that can move, make decisions, heal themselves, and even live for days, weeks, or even months.
The potential for biomedical applications is enormous. Due to their small size and biocompatibility, Xenobots could be used to deliver cancer drugs or carry out targeted repairs inside the human body.
In addition to being capable of completing tasks such as transporting small objects from place to place, Xenobots have the potential to help us understand the complexities of life more fully. They can be programmed to explore the fundamental dynamics of entirely new biological systems, while also manipulating the environment around them.
Further studies and experiments with Xenobots are bound to reveal even more potential applications for the technology. Already, the touted benefits of these tiny living robots have stunned the researchers.
“I don’t think any of us were expecting the sophistication that the Xenobots had,” said Joshua Bongard, a professor at the University of Vermont and one of the team’s leaders. “It’s quite remarkable.”
The invasion of the tiny robots is just beginning, and the possibilities seem nearly endless. It remains to be seen just how powerful and transformative Xenobots will become, but their current capabilities have certainly left scientists surprised.
