Vietnamese people make the smallest living robots in the world

Robot of Vietnamese author group weighs only 1gr, easy access to complex terrain to support search, rescue, exploration .

"Boring" live beetles , a hybrid robot research group at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) has developed a hybrid insect that performs many precise and unique moves towards detection. rescue after disaster.

Head of the research group is Professor Hirotaka Sato, specializing in research and development of living robots, and two Vietnamese people, Dr. Vo Doan Tat Thang, students Bui Xuan Hien and student Tan Yong Wen Melvin (Singaporeans).

The topic is funded by the startup fund of CN Nanyang University, Singapore Ministry of Education and research program for university students.

The author announced the robot by the research team - (Photo: NVCC).

Exchange with PV, TS. Vo Doan Tat Thang is working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Biological Machine Laboratory, Nanyang Technological University, saying that because of the construction of a small robot like an insect costs a lot. time and cost, the group "borrowed" live insects, inherited the natural shell, muscle system and nervous system.

This is the smallest live robot with a size of 2-2.5cm, weighs 1gr (including control circuit and battery). This makes it easy for living robots to adapt to complex terrain and to assist human exploration and exploration.

Aiming at the self-operating hybrid robot line, the group has mounted on the back of the beetle a wireless control circuit, on which the antenna has electrodes. The electrical impulse is generated to stimulate nerve cells in the insect's beard, to start reflecting, to make it move in the opposite direction of the stimulus.

When stimulating the left antenna, the bug will turn right and vice versa; stimulating both antennae will make it back. All components for controlling equipment are only about 10 SGD, which is only VND 160,000.

In the video provided by the team, the black path represents when the bug moves freely, without stimulation. Red sugar is stimulating to the right beard, green sugar is stimulated on the left antennae, orange lines are both antennae.

Hybrid robot weighs 1gr, costs only VND 160,000 - (Photo: NVCC).

Regarding the impact of electrical impulses on organisms, Thang said: "We use electrical impulses with relatively low voltages (2.5 V) to stimulate the antennae of the beetles. The survey shows that the stimulus does not affect normal life of the creature that only makes it move in the direction you want when stimulating.

These are important basic capabilities for developing precise motion controllers for living robots, moving forward to develop a generation of self-running live robots. "

"We hope in the future, this robot can easily crept into small cracks of rubble in a disaster or disaster to make the process of finding victims easier and more efficient than robots. Normally, " Mr. Thang added.

Currently, robot bugs are remotely controlled, not automatically, so no cameras or sensors are needed. But in the future, if you want to bring live robots into the field, you must equip more sensors to be able to locate it.

To stimulate flying and crawling bugs, scientists began their research in 2007 at the University of California, Berkeley and now at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).

"With this topic, my team succeeded in developing the type of robot on small beetles , finding new control methods, can change the speed of turning left / right as well as making the bug go backward." Mr. Thang shared.

Hybrid robots move freely and according to the team's wishes - (Video: Nanyang Technological University / YouTube) /