Nano-robot that controls herd of live bacteria

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/23533/

The video shows 3,000 bacteria maneuvering a V-shaped robot around via computer control.

Researchers in Canada have created a solar-powered micro-machine that is no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. The tiny machine can carry out basic sensing tasks and can indirectly control the movement of a swarm of bacteria in the same Petri dish.

Sylvain Martel, Director of the NanoRobotics Laboratory at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, previously showed a way to control bacteria attached to microbeads using an MRI machine. His new micro-machine, which measure 300x300 microns and carry tiny solar panels, will be presented this week at ICRA '09 in Japan.

On such a small device there is little room for batteries, sensors or transmitters. So the solar cell on top delivers power, sending an electric current to both a sensor and a communication circuit. The communication component sends tiny electromagnetic pulses that are detected by an external computer.

The sensor meanwhile detects surrounding pH levels--the higher the pH concentration, the faster the electromagnetic pulses emitted by the micro-machine. The external computer uses these signals to direct a swarm of about 3,000 magnetically-sensitive bacteria, which push the micro-machine around as it pulses. The bacteria push the micro-machine closer to the higher pH concentrations and change its direction if it pulses too slowly. This is more practical than trying to attach the bacteria onto the micro-machines, says Martel, since the bacteria only have a lifespan of a few hours. "It's like having a propulsion engine on demand," he says.

Martel suggests that micro-machines could one day be used for medical purposes although there's still a long way to go.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• nano
• bot
• technology
• bacteria
• robot
• mechanic
• tiny

[Dyzm]

I await future research

[Psychonaut2021]

WRONG. The title is wrong. I'm sorry but I think that the "microbots" are not the ones controlling the bacteria. Rather, the live bacteria is being controlled by a magnetic field instead. The live bacteria is used to push these "microbots" around.

[just1n1an1]

it looks like theyre following a light...

[Sizerian]

@keerashay Scientists are not taught that. Scientists don't necessarily believe that anything that is immeasurable is nonexistent. There are things which cannot be measured that are thought to exist, especially dealing with the quantum world. What scientists do not and should not ACTIVELY believe in are things with no evidence or probable likelihood.

[keerashay]

I can see where you think that, but even Einstein found himself basically forced to believe in God. Not a religious God, but one that reveals himself the perfect assembly and harmony of the universe. God IS a scientist. Our scientists are taught that if it can't be measured, it doesn't exist. This is self-defeating, for it precludes that scientists must ALREADY now have in their possession every measuring instrument that will ever be invented in order to accurately make that determination.

[InGUNable]

@orangegold1 you can suck on your god,,,bitch

[orangegold1]

@InGUNable What does that have to do with anything in this video? People like you are the reason distraction takes place and we end up getting set back years in research.

[InGUNable]

there will be time that god will be considered as "BULLSHIT OF THE TIME"

[gamerman001]

i didnt know nanobots were real...

[tehnewblife]

what? no Church-vs Lab comment-section flamewar?

Hurray!

[weedofdick]

@PinkProgram ok i'm sorry.. I was unfair to be honest only because almost everybody who comments to is trying to 1up someone else. -_-

apologies

[PinkProgram]

@weedofdick not attempting to impress anyone...