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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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This Palm-Sized Mobile Robot Achieves Sub-Micrometer Precision Could Replace Massive Precision Machines

In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, there is little tolerance for outdated tools or suboptimal performance. Industries such as electronics, medical devices, semiconductor manufacturingট্টably require extreme precision—often at the microscopic level. However, traditional positioning systems face a serious limitation: they are either highly accurate but restricted in movement, or mobile but lacking in precision.

Researchers at Yokohama National University have developed an innovative solution that eliminates this trade-off. Their creation, a palm-sized robot called the Holonomic Beetle (HB), combines high precision with wide mobility using piezoelectric actuators. The findings were published in Advanced Intelligent Systems in January 2026.

This breakthrough could reshape the future of precision engineering.

The Challenge: Precision vs. Mobility

Traditional precision stages are widely used in laboratories and factories. These systems are incredibly accurate but have a limited range of motion. They can move in tiny increments with high control, yet they cannot travel long distances.

On the other hand, mobile robots can move freely across larger areas. However, their positioning accuracy is often insufficient for tasks requiring microscopic precision. For industries working with sub-micrometer components, even the smallest error can lead to significant problems.

Until now, engineers had to choose between these two options—precision or mobility.

The research team refused to compromise.

Introducing the Holonomic Beetle (HB)

The Holonomic Beetle is a small, mobile robot designed to offer both high accuracy and wide range of movement. It achieves this by combining features from traditional precision stages and mobile robotics into one compact system.

Associate Professor Ohmi Fuchiwaki described the work as introducing “a new paradigm in robotic motion control.” The goal was to bridge the performance gap between mobile robots and ultraprecise positioning technology.

The key to this innovation lies in the use of piezoelectric actuators.

What Are Piezoelectric Actuators?

Piezoelectric actuators are high-precision devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical motion. They operate using the piezoelectric effect, which occurs when certain materials expand or contract in response to an electric field.

When voltage is applied to a piezoelectric material:

  • The internal structure changes slightly.

  • The material either expands or contracts.

  • This movement creates extremely precise mechanical displacement.

These actuators are known for:

  • Fast response times

  • High resolution

  • Long operational life

  • Exceptional accuracy

Because of these properties, piezoelectric actuators are widely used in precision instruments, microscopes, and semiconductor equipment. By integrating them into a mobile robot, the researchers achieved something previously thought difficult—precise motion with wide-area mobility.

Sub-Micrometer Accuracy in Motion

The team conducted precise path-following experiments across multiple XYΘ (X-Y-Theta) planes. These planes represent movement in two-dimensional space along with rotational control.

The results were remarkable.

The Holonomic Beetle followed both simple and complex paths with path errors ranging between 0.5 to 4.75 micrometers (µm). Even more impressive, the root mean square error (RMSE) was less than one micrometer.

To understand this:

  • RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) measures the difference between predicted and actual movement.

  • A lower RMSE means higher accuracy.

  • An RMSE under one micrometer indicates extremely precise positioning.

For perspective, a human hair is about 70 micrometers thick. The Holonomic Beetle operates with errors dozens of times smaller than that.

The system used a standard PID control method (Proportional-Integral-Derivative control), which is widely applied in engineering to maintain stability and reduce error. Even with this relatively simple control strategy, the robot delivered outstanding results.

Why This Breakthrough Matters

The ability to combine high-precision positioning with mobility opens up numerous possibilities.

Potential applications include:

  • Semiconductor manufacturing

  • Micro-assembly of electronic components

  • Medical device production

  • Optical instrument alignment

  • Scientific research laboratories

Traditionally, these fields rely on bulky and expensive stationary precision stages. A mobile, compact alternative could reduce costs, increase flexibility, and improve scalability.

Instead of moving the object to the machine, the machine can now move precisely to the object.

Technical Advantages of the Holonomic Beetle

The HB offers several important advantages:

1. Wide Range of Motion

Unlike conventional precision stages, HB is not limited to a fixed workspace. It can move across different scales—from sub-micrometer positioning to centimeter-level transportation.

2. High Precision

With sub-micrometer RMSE, the robot achieves accuracy comparable to specialized laboratory equipment.

3. Compact Size

Being palm-sized makes it suitable for tight and complex work environments.

4. Scalability

The design has the potential to be produced at lower cost compared to traditional precision systems.

Future Improvements

Although the results are impressive, the research team sees room for improvement. Their future goals include:

  • Increasing motor speed

  • Enhancing mechanical rigidity

  • Adding vibration reduction mechanisms

  • Implementing model-based control systems

Vibration is a major challenge in precision engineering. Even small environmental disturbances can affect performance. By introducing vibration suppression and advanced control models, the researchers aim to further reduce random motion and improve stability.

They also plan to make the robot more adaptable to different working environments, ensuring it can function effectively under practical industrial conditions.

A New Direction for Precision Engineering

The Holonomic Beetle represents more than just a new robot—it introduces a new approach to robotic motion control. Instead of separating mobility and precision into different technologies, this system merges them into one compact solution.

The research team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yokohama مندational University—including Eiji Kusui, Chihiro Sekine, Taiki Goto, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Yuko Nishimura, Shogen Sekiguchi, Satoshi Ando, Yuto Oishi, Yusuke Matsui, and Ohmi Fuchiwaki—has demonstrated that it is possible to achieve both flexibility and extreme accuracy simultaneously.

Their study, titled “Sub-Micrometer-Precision Path Following of Piezo-Actuated Mobile Robot,” marks a significant milestone in robotics research.

The Road Ahead

As industries continue to demand higher precision and greater efficiency, technologies like the Holonomic Beetle could become essential tools. Its combination of mobility, precision, and scalability makes it a strong candidate for replacing traditional precision stages in many applications.

The future vision is clear: a mobile, hyper-accurate, and cost-effective positioning system that can operate across various industries without compromise.

With continued improvements in control algorithms, mechanical design, and vibration suppression, the Holonomic Beetle may soon move from laboratory prototype to industrial reality.

In a world where even micrometers matter, this tiny robot is making a giant impact.

Reference: Eiji Kusui, Chihiro Sekine, Taiki Goto, Ryosuke Kinoshita, Yuko Nishimura, Shogen Sekiguchi, Satoshi Ando, Yuto Oishi, Yusuke Matsui, Ohmi Fuchiwaki, Advanced Intelligent Systems 2026, 0, e202501141. https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202501141

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