Researchers develop laser-guided microhoverbot, Engadget coins new word

We could have sworn that one of our commenters had already invented this, but maybe not. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario -- led by Professor Mir Behrad Khamesee -- has developed a microbot weighing in at about three-hundredths of an ounce that hovers and moves about on a three dimensional parabolic magnetic field. Altering the flow of the electromagnetic current distorts the field and propels the robot. Additionally, the device has pincers that open when heated by a laser, closing once they're allowed to cool. The device is monitored by laser sensors and by camera, and since the it floats free of any sort of wiring (and power is supplied from outside the robot) it is ideal for working in clean rooms or hazardous environments. Not too shabby, eh? At the very least, we got to use the word "microhoverbot."

[Via CNet]

[michael.leonard @ Apr 11th 2009 8:44PM]

Not that this reall needs to be said. But...

How freekin' cool is this???!!!

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 11th 2009 9:09PM]

Entirely.
It's ENTIRELY cool.

Living the future is what we're doing here.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 11th 2009 10:49PM]

You know what?
I'm totally convinced that matter (mass) generates its own space, or better its spece-time wich it needs to exist.
Space-time must be an attribute, a dimension of mass, because just like mass could not conceivably exist in the absence of space(and therefore of time) , so space cannot exist and must actually cease to exist in the absence of matter.
I choose the word "matter" instead of "mass" because I want to include also waves and particularly photons.
This inclusion would also allow to account for the results of observations of of Doppler effects (red shift) that would seem to indicate an expanding universe; in reality I think these results show not the expansion of space but the constant creation (and simultaneous destruction) of space time by photons, radiation and subatomic particles that practically generate their necessary space-time.
The cat in the poison-rigged box, that is often cited as one of the more evident parodoxes of quantum mechanics, is both dead and alive because the space-time in which its death has taken place is not yet formed, its in this sense that the observer determines the fate of the cat and the results of quantistic experiments: he litteraly createes the space-time in which a result can take place..
Quantistic experiments have shown how empty space seems too generate subatomic particles of matter and antimatter litteraly "borrowing them" from the future (on condition that its opposite charged anti-particles provides to annhilate them) and maybe in this effect (well known and studied) must be searched the secret of the "dark matter" .
Yep, I'm totally positive: to imagine an empty space (space-time) without matter is just as absurd as imagining matter in the absence of space (and time).
Anyway, now I better go to bed.

[loosely_coupled @ Apr 14th 2009 12:23PM]

@trout

"just like mass could not conceivably exist in the absence of space(and therefore of time) , so space cannot exist and must actually cease to exist in the absence of matter."

Quite a Non sequitur there... sigh... leave the crank nonsense off of engadget..

[banana2011 @ Apr 12th 2009 1:09AM]

so your saying...
there can be no space inside space inside no space inside space?

picture this: a vacuumed bottle inside a vacuumed bottle.

[KarlW @ Apr 12th 2009 5:25AM]

@KT

Stop smoking it. http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/images/killerdrug.jpg

[rcarm @ Apr 12th 2009 9:23AM]

Yeah, KT, you really didn't make any sense

[eric @ Apr 11th 2009 9:28PM]

Wow, you're a tool bill.

[bill cant fart @ Apr 11th 2009 9:32PM]

What kind of tool?

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:39PM]

A useful tool.

[RioRyan @ Apr 11th 2009 9:40PM]

Like a Swiss Army Knife, without the Swiss, .. or the Army.. but maybe the knife.

[bill cant fart @ Apr 11th 2009 9:51PM]

Can I be the toothpick or the tweezers that slide out of the knife?! Or maybe one of those little screwdrivers that you stick inside the corkscrew?

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 12th 2009 12:12AM]

A Tool by any other name would still be the same.

[Zak @ Apr 11th 2009 8:52PM]

Its still not a shark with a lazer beam on its head is it?

[BradS @ Apr 14th 2009 4:31PM]

It's a TINY shark with a frickin' laser on its head.

Actually, it's a TINY shark with a frickin' laser-activated pincer on its head.

[lpppppl @ Apr 11th 2009 8:51PM]

go waterloo!!

[GroovDude @ Apr 11th 2009 8:53PM]

So when do we get to be like Star Trek?

[a ham sandwich @ Apr 11th 2009 9:01PM]

miriam webster, you paying attention?

[andres @ Apr 11th 2009 10:06PM]

yes, and they would like to tell you it is actually "Merriam-Webster."

[bill cant fart @ Apr 11th 2009 10:25PM]

I think he was talking to his grandma, not a dictionary.

[a ham sandwich @ Apr 12th 2009 12:04PM]

ooo ouch. thats embarrassing. :(

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 11th 2009 9:01PM]

I think it's cool that you're "Coining" words but don't forget the word I have "Coined" here that get used often: PRON. Yes it was me on my third post here about 4.75 years ago. This microhovbot is really microcool, in that it's cold but makes you hot thinking about the possibilities, other than those mentioned.

(coined MICROHOVBOT because it's cooler sounding than microhoverbot.)

[Nathan @ Apr 11th 2009 10:00PM]

I hate to burst your bubble of self-importance, but pron, pr0n, PRON, etc. has been in use on the internet much longer than 4.75 years.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 11th 2009 10:03PM]

The "word" that you claim to have coined in reality is a "1337" word much older than 5 and even 6 years and besides you can't even spell it: it should be "pr0n", or even better: "teh pr0n".

[zfurie @ Apr 11th 2009 10:27PM]

And Im gonna coin the word "WOOOSH" which I began using 2 minutes ago just for Nathan and KilgoreTrout.

[rcarm @ Apr 11th 2009 9:01PM]

Ninth!

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:02PM]

I would but I'm not paying. Its not a donation if you have to pay to use the software.

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:03PM]

Or service.

[bill cant fart @ Apr 11th 2009 9:03PM]

Good work, little man!

[ben @ Apr 11th 2009 9:03PM]

Commenting here totally means you have a chance to be linked from some future article, as long as you don't say something completely pointless and menial like

[superhobo @ Apr 12th 2009 6:20AM]

I really did make that, but being totally modest, I'll say I didn't.

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:08PM]

I thought they made you donate. I was wrong. so I signed.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 11th 2009 9:15PM]

I think my avatar still randomly changes from "Christmas Avatar" to "Old Avatar" to "New Avatar."

I think it's an annoying glitch, or Engadget gave me it?

[Jubal @ Apr 11th 2009 9:17PM]

Am I the only one not amazed by this? It's actually relatively simple thing to do :\ The only thing tough would be to get the shape of the robot and the manipulation of the magnetic fields and even that wouldnt be very complicated given the right equipment. When I see this happen on a much larger scale with MOVING parts and not just expanding/contracting "pincers" then I'll be impressed.

[andres @ Apr 11th 2009 10:31PM]

then do it

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Apr 12th 2009 12:10AM]

Yeah make us a video demo Einstein.

[superhobo @ Apr 12th 2009 6:15AM]

Magnetic levitation is...old.

What's impressive about this is the microness.

[BradS @ Apr 14th 2009 4:28PM]

That's what SHE said

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:24PM]

I suggest any body who agrees to this leave the petition address in as many comments as possible.

[bill cant fart @ Apr 11th 2009 9:31PM]

@Shattered Ice

Yeah! Let's get to work!

I was thinking this was just gonna be a ear-flick to Engadget, but with some support it may be a full-on wet willy! The most persuading wet willy ever...

[RioRyan @ Apr 11th 2009 9:39PM]

If there's one link that should be spammed (if you can call it spam) all over engadget articles, it should be this one.

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 9:42PM]

I didn't mean spam I meant like a sig on a forum. You write a comment relevant to the article and leave the link under your comment.

[br4nd0nh347 @ Apr 11th 2009 9:45PM]

I just want to respond to people who reply to you.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 11th 2009 9:56PM]

It must be really embarassing for a technology blog not to be able to master the technology of its own posting software.

[Max @ Apr 11th 2009 10:02PM]

So...where does that three dimensional parabolic magnetic field come from?

[andres @ Apr 11th 2009 10:08PM]

your anus

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 10:11PM]

A bit over the top.

[andres @ Apr 11th 2009 10:32PM]

i suppose

[danimaldan @ Apr 11th 2009 10:14PM]

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? there is no way that i am going to pay to sign a petition!!

[Shattered Ice @ Apr 11th 2009 10:18PM]

You don't pay. it asks you to donate after you sign and submit your petition. You don't have to donate. Your petition is submitted before you are asked to donate so please sign.