These little microscopic robots can swim through your eyeballs

Nov 9, 2014 - 10:30
Nov 9, 2014 - 10:54
 0  1
These little microscopic robots can swim through your eyeballs
The robots (Picture: Youtube)

These incredible microscopic robots have been specially designed to swim through a person's eyeballs.

The micro-swimmer, developed by the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany, is shaped like a scallop so it can rapidly whizz through the vitreous fluid in the centre of the eye.

The robot, made using a 3D printer, twitches back and forth on a hinge to propel it along through the thick liquid.


\"(Picture:

(Picture: Youtube)

It uses the power of an exteal magnetic field to move meaning it does not need a battery – key to its microscopic size.

But while it can move through vitreous fluid successfully its unique scallop movement would render it useless in water due to the thinness.

\"(Picture:

(Picture: Harvard)

\"(Picture:

(Picture: YouTube)

While the microscopic eye robot has the ability to swim through our eyeball, it has yet to be adapted to actually do anything useful.

Scientists of course hope this will be the next step, so watch this space.

What's Your Reaction?

Like Like 0
Dislike Dislike 0
Love Love 0
Funny Funny 0
Angry Angry 0
Sad Sad 0
Wow Wow 0
Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.