Watch world’s tiniest robots swarming like ANTS in chilling hivemind – and they could one day be injected into HUMANS
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THIS is the moment the world's tiniest robots form a chilling hivemind swarm like ants - and they could be injected into humans. Researchers in South Korea have created these creepy robots that can be seen collectively moving large objects, climbing up onto a platform and walking across it.
![[In a fascinating clip, the self-assembling swarm disconnects one of the mini-bots who climbs onto the platform and walks across it]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/93d62a52-4803-4138-95c2-114a87843287.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The eerie footage shows these mini-machines, measuring just 600 micrometres each, or 0.6 of a millimetre, form a swarm and move on their own. They also manage to join together and topple a 330-milligram cuboid in the video and lift a 160-milligram obstacle from underneath it.
![[The bots manage to lift this 160-milligram obstacle]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0b0abc25-6250-4bc6-8338-2a85a391ed19.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The team at Hanyang University in Seoul believe their swarm, which is powered by a rotating magnetic field, could tackle challenging tasks in difficult environments. This could include being put into humans to assist with invasive surgeries like artery blockages.
![[The swarm topples over the 330-milligram cuboid]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/84dd7896-b7d6-485d-aae6-a5ce4543d5a6.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Jeong Jae Wie, part of the Department of Organic and Nano Engineering at Hanyang University, was surprised at how strongly the swarm is able to work together. He said: “The high adaptability of microrobot swarms to their surroundings and high autonomy level in swarm control were surprising.
![[The moment one of the mini-bots breaks off from the swarm and autonomously climbs up the side of the platform]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/52e063dc-0b12-4b72-ad7a-6a275c56b33e.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“We developed a cost-effective mass production method using onsite replica molding and magnetization, ensuring uniform geometry and magnetization profiles for consistent performance. “While the study’s results are promising, the swarms will need higher levels of autonomy before they will be ready for real-world applications.”.
![[The swarm also has the ability to launch one of the mini-bots into the air using only magnetic fields]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/rise-minibots-watch-world-s-958563227.png?strip=all&w=960)
