Shapeshifting Robot 'Magnetic Slime' Developed to Search and Retrieve Inside Human Bodies

The medical industry presented another breakthrough concept of administering treatments and other operations to patients, especially those with their internal organs inflicted with severe disease.

Magnetic Slime Robot

A new study developed what might be the most adaptive and reflexive solution yet for people who need operations in their internal systems. Scholars from Hong Kong created the concept of a robotic slime that could enter the body of a patient.

The slime can travel in and out of a human body through a magnetic property, allowing a not-so-invasive operation that does not require any cuts or complex surgery approach.

This project's basic target is retrieving unwanted objects in a body that might have resulted from accidental ingestion. However, the function of the magnetic slime is not limited to just getting materials out of a person, as it offers a vast array of real-world applications.

The magnetic slime's robotic development was made possible through the collaboration of experts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Harbin Institute of Technology.

Mechanical and automation engineering expert Li Zhang, who also authored the research, explained that the ultimate goal of the goo-bot's application is to deploy its robotic capacities for many aspects other than medical purposes.

Zhang and colleagues constructed the ooze-like machine by combining the basic household detergent borax with neodymium magnet particles. The experts then added resin polyvinyl alcohol, which gave the robot the perfect slimy effect while keeping its controllable magnetic properties intact.

The toxic magnetic compounds were then coated with silica to give the goo-bot protection for itself and human organs' safety once they enter a person's body.

Gooey, Shapeshifting Robotic Blob Can Enter and Exit from Human Body

The magnetic slime has a gooey effect due to its visco-elastic property. In this condition, an object can behave between the usual solid and liquid state concerning the external force. Due to its architecture, the robotic slime's abilities are somewhat similar to how the liquid metal robot from the Terminator franchise moves.

Zhang explained that the slimy structure likely forms in its solid-state when applied with a quick and aggressive force, but behaves like a liquid when touched slowly and gently.

The slimy blob could also be controlled to take several shapes, such as how the letters 'C' and 'O' appear. The robot could also contain a certain amount of electricity, making it a good conductor for other applications.

According to a report by New York Post, the development of the magnetic slime was unimaginable that people on social media thought it was just a mere 'April Fool's' prank relayed by the scientific community.

Zhang said that the current phase of robotic innovation is not sentient and cannot move autonomously. The team will conduct further research to understand its properties and develop specialized functions in other fields.

The study was published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, titled "Reconfigurable Magnetic Slime Robot: Deformation, Adaptability, and Multifunction."

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