Versatile Magnetic Robots Master Multiple Modes of Movement

Scientists at MIT have developed tiny, soft-bodied robots that can be controlled with a weak magnet. These robots, made from rubbery magnetic spirals, can walk, crawl, and swim in response to a simple magnetic field. The robots are composed of soft polymers, requiring only a small magnetic field for activation. The technology has potential applications in transporting cargo through confined spaces and biomedical uses, such as delivering drugs through narrow blood vessels. The robots can be easily controlled and programmed with different movements using a single magnetic field.