Tiny Motors Let Robo Surgeon Roam a Heart

A mobile robot driven by miniature ultrasonic piezoelectric motors open one route to minimally-invasive cardiac therapy. The robot is a product of the Robots Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, and builds upon previous prototypes of its HeartLander. The system includes motor selection, body, and controllers, and was developed as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate mobility on the cardiac surface. Designers say the robot turns tighter and has more traction than a previous model, and represents the first step in designing a wireless mobile robot for cardiac therapy.