Joel Orr's World

The BBC (5/14) reports, "A tiny [soccer]-playing robot has been developed by a team" at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology "in Zurich to spark young people's interest in nanotechnology -- and with the hope of leading to pioneering medical treatments." The robot, which is "made out of nickel and powered by magnetic fields, is just 300 microns wide -- about the width of three hairs," and plays soccer "with an even smaller ball, dubbed a 'nanoball.'"

The miniature robot "is able to dodge microscopic 'defenders' before slotting home into the world's smallest goal." The BBC points out that to the "naked eye, the robot looks like a very small speck of dust." Controlling the robot "involves watching through a camera, which tracks the robot through a microscope," and pressing "cursor keys on a keyboard." The robot's actions can also be "programmed in advance."