MIT unveils hair-thin battery to power tiny robots
What's the story
The main limitation of tiny robots is their size. The smaller the robot, the harder it is to develop its components. Now, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an ultra-thin zinc-air battery, an innovative power source as thin as a human hair, measuring just 0.1mm in length and 0.002mm in thickness. This breakthrough addresses one of the key challenges in miniaturizing robotic technology — finding a suitable power source due to size constraints.
Advanced applications
The battery can produce 1V of electricity
The hair-thin battery developed by MIT researchers is intended to power advanced micro-robots. These tiny machines could perform tasks ranging from targeted drug delivery within the human body, to inspecting pipelines for potential gas leaks. Despite its minuscule size, the battery can generate up to 1V of electricity — enough to operate a sensor, circuit, or even a moving actuator in these robots. The battery captures oxygen from air and uses it to oxidize zinc to create current.
Future prospects
A significant step toward self-contained micro-robots
Currently, the micro-robots powered by these hair-thin battery are still connected to an external device. However, the research team is confident that they can create a version where the power source is entirely enclosed within the robot itself. They are also working on increasing the voltage that this innovative system can produce.