Scientists at Stanford University’s Biomimetics and Dexterous Manipulation Laboratory have been studying ways to increase the collective strength of tiny robots.
THey managed to create miniscule, complex 17-gram “microTugs”. They might not look like much, but six of them managed to pull (very, very slowly) a car 1814kg car.
The design was modeled after and inspired by ants, which can move and lift objects weighing 100 times their own weight – especially if they work together as a team.
Using a special adhesive reminiscent of gecko toes, the microrobots were developed to move objects over 2000 times their own weight.
The impressive demonstration is the equivalent of a team of six humans moving a weight equivalent to that of an Eiffel Tower and three Statues of Liberty.