Nanyang Technological University Develops 5-in-1 Seed-Sized Surgical Robot
- Published
- Source
- Robohub.org
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have created a seed-sized surgical robot capable of performing five functions wirelessly. Measuring just 4.4 mm, the robot can navigate soft surfaces to cut tissues, release drugs, grip samples, and generate heat, all controlled by magnetic fields. This innovation aims to enhance precision in surgeries and medical treatments.
The significance of this development lies in its potential to revolutionize minimally invasive procedures. Unlike traditional magnetic robots that perform limited functions, this new robot can switch between tasks in under a second, making it a versatile tool for targeted surgeries. Associate Professor Lum Guo Zhan, leading the project, envisions its use in navigating the body for precise treatments without large incisions.
Looking ahead, the NTU team has successfully tested the robot on biological tissues, demonstrating its capabilities in cutting and heat generation. Future research may focus on further refining its functions and exploring its applications in clinical settings. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
A ‘5-in-1’ seed-sized surgical robot
Robohub.org · Nanyang Technological University, SingaporeThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
Rights concerns? Contact [email protected] with the relevant URL and details. We will review the matter and take appropriate action where warranted.
More related news
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
-
9
Robotics Summit & Expo 2027 | Jun 2–3, Boston RobotToday · 5 days ago
- 10
- 11
- 12
Related Suppliers
Robeauté
France
Paris medtech startup Robeaute develops rice-sized microrobots that navigate brain tissue to diagnose and treat neurological disease; $28M Series A in 2025.
Progressive Robotics
Greece
Thessaloniki deep-tech startup offering AI-powered no-code palletizing and robotic handling software for SMEs.
WISAP Medical Technology GmbH
Germany
Brunnthal, Germany minimally invasive surgery device maker founded 1959; owned by China's Aohua Group since 2018, manufactures exclusively in Germany.
University of Washington BioRobotics Laboratory
United States
UW BRL: surgical robotics, haptics, teleoperation. Creators of RAVEN open-source surgical robot, deployed at 18 institutes worldwide.
Riverfield Surgical Robot Lab (JP)
Tokyo, Japan surgical robotics firm spun out of Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2014; builds pneumatic-driven robots including the EMARO endoscope holder.
AiM Medical Robotics
United States
Worcester, MA neurosurgical robotics firm developing a portable MRI-compatible surgical robot for deep brain stimulation under real-time MRI guidance.
Drone4Agro Ltd
Netherlands
Voorthuizen, Netherlands start-up building CE-marked custom agricultural drones with 15-80 L tanks and 3-9 m spray spans for spraying and sowing.
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Israel
Israeli research university in Beer-Sheva operating the ABC Robotics Initiative covering agricultural, biological, and cognitive robotics research.
Levita Magnetics
United States
Developer of the world's first FDA-cleared magnetic surgical robot, the MARS platform for abdominal surgery.
Netzer Precision Motion Sensors Ltd.
Israel
Israeli maker of proprietary Electric Encoder capacitive position sensors - contactless, non-magnetic, EMI-immune - for robotics servo drives and defense.
Doup Robotics
Japan
Tokyo AMR startup founded in 2025 building the 1,000kg-payload Doup1000 with proprietary SLAM navigation, expanding to the US via JETRO GSAP 2026.
Monolithic Power Systems
United States
US fabless semiconductor company providing energy-efficient power management ICs, motor drivers and position sensors used in robotics and motion control.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
