Controlling a Gut Bot’s Position

July 31, 2008 | Source: Technology Review

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a tiny capsule robot adhesive enough to anchor inside an intestine and yet gentle enough not to tear soft tissue.

(Metin Sitti, Carnegie Mellon University)

(Metin Sitti, Carnegie Mellon University)

They looked to beetles, which secrete oil-like liquids along their foot hairs to stick securely to surfaces, and coated the robot’s feet with a similarly viscous liquid for more adhesion, using a surface-tension component.

Future possible uses include biopsy and control of bleeding.