Tiny robot can do 75 moves per second

When you think that nothing new about robots is yet to impress, technology presents us with something surprising. Harvard scientists have developed the smallest, most accurate robot capable of reproducing 75 motions per second. According to milliDelta's creators, it could have a variety of functions: from composing assembly lines to assisting in microsurgery.

The concept of the delta robot is not quite new to the market. It is used in factories that operate with item selection, for example. It's fast and smart, much faster and more accurate than an industrial robot.

A delta robot is controlled by motors on a central basis, so it is more accurate than industrial robots, which have motors in their joints. The structure of the small milliDelta follows the same concept, but with modern components that allow it to be smaller. Instead of ordinary electric motors, milliDelta has piezoelectric actuators that respond to electrical voltage by shrinking or expanding. The arms are formed by a negative and a positive chain, which makes them bend from side to side. Weight and size ensure your speed during movement.

The project was developed by scientists from Harvard University. Due to its accuracy, the robot could be used in microsurgery to reduce errors caused by the shaking hands of humans. According to scientist Hayley McClintock, one of the project's authors, one possibility would be eye surgery. "There are problems with tremors when you are operating in such a small area, so milliDelta could be used as a neutralizer of those tremors, " said the researcher, who wrote an article about the robot for Science Robotics.

The idea would be to use the mini-robot at the end of the surgery, when the doctor needs a lot of accuracy to finish the procedure. No matter how perfect the operation, any slight shaking of the hands could compromise the end result, so milliDelta would be the ideal solution.

But the mini-robot would not only be useful for adding more precision to delicate surgeries. It can be used in industry for the purpose of picking and placing objects, just like conventional delta robots, but on smaller scales.

Tiny robot can do 75 moves per second via TecMundo