How Small Is Too Small? True Microrobots and Nanorobots for Military Applications in 2035

Abstract : The Department of Defense (DOD) anticipates the realization of biomimetic bird and two-inch-insect sized systems within the 2015-2047 time frame. Although robot systems on the order of size of one millimeter or smaller are not explicitly specified in current DOD and United States Air Force technology roadmaps, the technological aims toward this size can be clearly implied from official documents. This research assesses the likelihood of, and barriers to, the realization of true microrobots and nanorobots (defined as sub-millimeter sized robots of micrometer and nanometer proportions, respectively) that can perform in military applications by 2035. The findings of this research are that the realization of true microrobots for military applications by 2035 is unlikely except for a single case of microrobots.

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