Human fingers are clearly too big to safely play with bugs, but technology could offer a far gentler option. Scientists at Ritsumeikan University have developed soft robotic “microfingers” that humans can use to interact with insects. The tiny digits (just 0.47 inches long and 0.12 inches wide) combine flexible liquid metal strain sensors with pneumatic balloon “muscles” to provide just enough force to touch a bug without hurting it. The human operator controls the tiny hand with a robotic glove.
To test the technology, the researchers used the microfingers to measure the reaction force from a pill beetle’s legs and torso. The creature’s pushback of 10 millinewtons from its legs matched previous estimates — a number that science has not yet been able to directly verify.
The technology could be helpful for studying insect powers like walking or flying (and yes, the temptation to tickle a bug is there). However, the team also sees the invention as potentially useful for other micro-scale interactions, particularly with the help of augmented reality glasses, which could offer clearer vision. Future versions could one day help doctors interact directly with bacteria and viruses.
The challenge, as with many scientific inventions, is to translate the discovery into a practical product. The Ritsumeikan team warned that this is a proof of concept and a “representative study”. It may be a while before the technology is tested extensively, let alone ready for series production. After all, this hints at a future where humans can quite naturally grab and poke the smallest objects.
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