Medical researchers have been trying to observe what goes inside the human body and also adopt certain invasive but safe techniques of treatment. Researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University have developed a robot that can be safely stuck to the intestine without damaging the soft tissues. The anchoring robot can be swallowed like a normal tablet and after reaching the intestine, a doctor would control it wirelessly. It could help in biopsies, drug delivery, heat treatments, and other procedures. The issue was to find a good adhesive that would stick to the intestine and other internal organs safely. Beetles could actually help in producing the adhesives required and their oil-like liquid secretions increase capillary and intramolecular forces and adhere to rough surfaces. The robot measures one centimeter and can at the moment help only in imaging. Once the technology improves, the possibilities are endless.

Via: TechnologyReview