To create a miniature shapeshifting robot capable of controlled movement, subdivision, regeneration, passage through small channels, engulfment of particles, object manipulation, and flow manipulation, a droplet of magnetically responsive ferrofluid is used. The ferrofluidic robot can achieve the aforementioned functions when both its position and shape are controlled using a custom electromagnetic field generation system. It is demonstrated that the proposed robot can perform these functions with submillimeter and subdegree error. A robot having these capabilities can remotely perform medical and microassembly tasks requiring fine dexterity that are currently difficult or impossible.

中文翻译：

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变形铁磁流体机器人

为了创建一个能够控制运动、细分、再生、通过小通道、粒子吞噬、物体操纵和流动操纵的微型变形机器人，使用了磁响应铁磁流体的液滴。当使用定制的电磁场生成系统控制其位置和形状时，铁磁流体机器人可以实现上述功能。证明所提出的机器人可以以亚毫米和亚度误差执行这些功能。具有这些能力的机器人可以远程执行需要精细灵活性的医疗和微组装任务，这些任务目前很难或不可能完成。