British lab creates world's first chemical robot
Microscopic robot can move molecules
Step toward microscopic assembly line
Scientists in Britain have created the world's first molecular size robot that is capable of building new molecules programmed by chemical instructions. It can perform basic functions using a tiny robotic arm a millionth of a millimeter in size - a billion, billion piled up would equal a grain of salt. The unseen mini-bot could be used for such things as medical innovations, molecular manufacturing, and microscopic assembly lines, producing all sorts of things.
Chemistry composition is the key
The miniature robots are made of a select group of chemical compounds totaling 150 hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. Chemical signals are delivered via a solution with programmed instructions that put the micro machines through a series of steps that achieve simple tasks.
Its main function is to grab molecules with its arm and move them into place forming new tiny structures. Making new drugs would be one of the missions for scientists with this method and the molecular manufacturing would allow new discovers to occur more efficiently, using fewer materials, supplanting previous methods.
David Leigh of the University of Manchester explains:
“All matter is made up of atoms and these are the basic building blocks that form molecules. Our robot is literally a molecular robot constructed of atoms, just like you can build a very simple robot out of Lego bricks,” said David Leigh, a scientist at the University of Manchester, who was involved in the research.
“It is similar to the way robots are used on a car assembly line. Those robots pick up a panel and position it so that it can be riveted in the correct way to build the bodywork of a car,” explains Leigh. “So, just like the robot in the factory, our molecular version can be programmed to position and rivet components in different ways to build different products, just on a much smaller scale at a molecular level.” Article
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