Michael Plishka
Edit
|
Walking is something we take for granted. The more precise our steps have to be, it seems the more difficulty we have in placing our feet where we want them to be. The fact that a nano size robot can walk along strands of DNA should inspire awe in all of us. Researcher Andrew Turberfield, a University of Oxford physicist has spearheaded the effort to create a two-legged robot that is made from DNA - it’s a walking molecule. It walks along a DNA track by attaching to complementary sequences. The track is designed so that when the rear foot is lifted, it either has to drop back down or go forward. This prevents the bot from floating away, or worse, wandering aimlessly back and forth along the track.  Molecular engines that walk along strands of DNA are nothing new, but none has featured as many successful features as the Oxford team's device. Unlike earlier attempts, their nanobot doesn't wander aimlessly back and forth, fall off its track or destroy its track as it walks. The team have also devised an ingenious way of powering the nanobot that allows it to move freely.
(newscientist)References: newscientist Filed In: |
| Related |
|
Favorited by 
