Web Desk(September 22, 2017): Scientists have constructed a robot capable of building molecules the world’s first “molecular robot.” The nanoscale robots can use a tiny robotic arm to move and build molecules.
The molecular robot works by triggering chemical reactions in specially designed solutions. Eventually, the robot could carry out medical missions or work on chemical assembly lines.
“The robot then responds to a series of simple commands that are programmed with chemical inputs by a scientist.”
“Just like the robot in the factory, our molecular version can be programmed to position and rivet components in different ways to build different products, just on a much smaller scale at a molecular level,” Leigh said.
One of the benefits of the new robot is its size. The molecular robot can help reduce material waste in various production processes.
Researchers say it could also help speed up the drug discovery process. Smaller robots can also operate with improve energy efficiency and build smaller products.
“It is the same sort of process scientists use to make medicines and plastics from simple chemical building blocks,” Leigh said.
“Then, once the nano-robots have been constructed, they are operated by scientists by adding chemical inputs which tell the robots what to do and when, just like a computer program.”
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