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Harvard researchers have made the tiny Harvard Ambulatory Microrobot (HAMR) even tinier. The next-gen, cockroach-inspired robot is about the size of a penny, and it can run at speeds of 13.9 body lengths per second. That makes it one of the smallest and fastest microrobots to date. The team also believes it’s the most dexterous robot of its size. Dubbed HAMR-JR, the robot is a half-scale version of its predecessor, which researchers taught to swim and walk underwater. The team built HAMR-JR, in part, to test whether the origami-inspired manufacturing process used to build HAMR and other microbots, like RoboBee,...

Epson unveils better version of world's lightest flying micro-robot Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 16:13 JST TOKYO — Seiko Epson Corp said Wednesday it has developed a more advanced successor to its flying micro-robot, the world's smallest and lightest. The new model features fully wireless control and has two tiny ultrasonic motors that drive two propellers in opposite directions for lift. Epson said the model, which is about 136 millimeters wide, 85 mm tall and weighs 8.6 grams without the battery, will be on display at a fair to be held Aug 27-30 at the Tokyo International Forum. (Kyodo News)