Magnetic Levitating Microbots

University of Waterloo researchers have created a microbot for handling biological samples or even micro surgery.

Behrad Khamesee is the director of  the Maglev Microrobotics Laboratory at the university.  He states,

We have developed a magnetically levitated microrobot, which is a new technology for manipulation using flying microrobots.  We are the first in the world to make such a floating robot equipped with microgrippers. It can enter virtually any space and can be operated in a sealed enclosure by a person outside, which makes it useful for handling biohazardous materials or working in vacuum chambers and clean rooms.

Sounds like another trip for the crew from the cartoon Fantastic Voyage.  In the cartoon people and a vehicle are shrunk small enough to travel in a person’s bloodstream.  They then had a limited amount of time to carry out a mission before becoming large again.

Link Via (InSciences) Via (Times of India)