The capability of manipulating micro and nanometer-sized objects, such as cells and nanomaterials opens new frontiers in robotic surgery, disease diagnostics, industrial applications and enables new discoveries in many disciplines such as biology, medicine, and materials science. The field of Micro-NanoRobotics includes the design and construction of robotic agents that are micro-nanometer sized and robotic manipulation of objects with dimensions in the micrometer and nanometer ranges. The past two decades has witnessed spurred development of micro-nanorobotic systems and technologies with common hallmarks of precision instrumentation, sensing, actuation, and control. Furthermore, the scaling of physical effects (e.g., low Reynold’s number and dominating surface forces) can make seemingly simple manipulation tasks challenging.

This presentation will provide an overview of challenges, opportunities, and recent advances made in the field of micro-nanorobotics. Characteristic sensing, actuation, control, and fabrication technologies will be introduced. Example micro-nanorobotic technologies developed for the assembly of micro-nano devices, in vivo medical therapy, single-cell surgery and characterization, and nanomanufacturing will be given. Significant advances have been made to date; however, the most exciting era of micro-nanorobotics is still ahead, and the greatest results in the field and impact to our society will emerge within the next decade or two.