It is swallowed like a pill, and can carry drugs in the human body, remove foreign bodies and repair the stomach.
It's very small, but al its interior contains un concentrate of nanotechnology. It is the latest ingenious invention of the scientists of Massachusetts institute of technology (Mit) of Boston: a robot origami which opens inside the stomach and which can serve many purposes.
The project was developed by the team of Daniela Rus, director of Computer science and artificial intelligence laboratory of the MIT, together with scholars from the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Sheffield. “Our robot is capable, for example, of remove objects strangers accidentally ingested, treat an injury, or carrying medications – ha Daniela explained Rus in an MIT video – One of the biggest challenges in its development was to find biocompatible and easy-to-control materials”.
The chosen material is made up of fabrics of pig intestinesimilar to humans. The robot moves jerkily, with a accordion course, thanks to microscopic suction cups. Driven by a surgeon, can repair small injuries, or remove foreign objects. “We are thinking of improving the functionality of origami,equipping it with sensorsin way that I can control yourself. It's really exciting – continues Daniela Rus – to see our little robot in action, carrying out a task like this important applications for human health".
