Nanowerk June 18, 2020
Swarming of molecular robots has emerged as a new paradigm with potentials to overcome the hurdles in molecular robotics. In this article researchers in Japan review the recent progress and future challenges in molecular robotics. They discuss the latest developments in swarm molecular robotics, particularly emphasizing the effective utilization of bio- and nanotechnology in swarming of molecular robots. Importance of tuning the mutual interaction among the molecular robots in regulation of their swarming is introduced. Successful utilization of DNA, photoresponsive molecules, and natural molecular machines in swarming of molecular robots to provide them with processing, sensing, and actuating ability is highlighted. The potentials of molecular swarm robots for practical applications, their ability to participate in logical operations and molecular computations and the prospects of the molecular swarm robots in utilizing the emergent functions are also emphasized…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
A molecular robot, which is typically between 100 nanometers to 100 micrometers long, requires an actuator, processor, and sensor to function properly. Credit: Image: Hokkaido University