Pangolin-inspired tiny robot delivers lifesaving medications and stops internal bleeding.

A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Munich have designed a miniature robot inspired by the flexible motion of pangolins. The robot, which is 1 cm by 2 cm by 0.2 mm in size, has overlapping scales and can heat up to 70°C to perform medical treatments on tissues. The robot can also demagnetize to release cargo onto tissues, which could be used to deliver drugs in the future. The robot's ability to roll and tumble about is triggered by external magnetic stimulation, allowing it to change from a flat to a curled posture and locomote.