Scientific American: News In Brief: The Smallest Robot Ever: February 5, 2001 ENGINEERING
The Smallest Robot Ever

Image: Randy Montoya/Sandia National Laboratory
Imagine a remote-controlled swarm of roach-sized tanks storming into a building through the pipes and vents. Armed with the proper sensors, cameras and communication devices, these tiny tanks could seek out chemical weapons, mines or bombs planted in hard-to-reach places. They could also detect survivors after an accident, or track human movements.
It's a vision that could become reality thanks to the work of Ed Heller and colleagues at Sandia National Laboratories. The group recently unveiled what may be the world's smallest robot, which they say "turns on a dime and parks on a nickel" (see image). The new mini-robot is the latest in a series from Sandia. To make it even smaller than its predecessors, the scientists used a new technique to package the electronics, a different wheel design and a change in the body material.