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

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Scientists Have Created a Swallowable Robot That Could Replace Painful Endoscopies

A team of researchers at the TechMed Center of the University of Twente has developed a tiny swallowable soft robot that may completely change how doctors examine the stomach. The device, called SeroTab, can move inside the stomach, measure acidity in real time, and even collect stomach fluid samples — all without batteries, chips, or any traditional electronics.

The breakthrough was published in the journal Science Advances and represents a major step toward less invasive medical diagnostics. Instead of forcing patients to undergo uncomfortable endoscopy procedures, doctors may one day simply ask them to swallow a soft robotic tablet.

Scientists Have Created a Swallowable Robot That Could Replace Painful Endoscopies

A New Alternative to Traditional Endoscopy

Every year, millions of people around the world are advised to get an endoscopy. In this procedure, doctors push a long flexible tube with a camera down the patient’s throat to inspect the stomach and digestive tract. While effective, the process can be uncomfortable, stressful, and expensive. In many parts of the world, advanced endoscopy equipment and specialists are also difficult to access.

Researchers designed SeroTab to solve these problems.

The soft robotic device is small enough to swallow like a pill. Once inside the stomach, health care workers can guide it from outside the body using a handheld magnet. The robot gently glides along the stomach wall while performing diagnostic tasks. Doctors can monitor the entire process using a standard ultrasound scanner, avoiding the need for cameras or wired tubes.

The complete examination may take less than 20 minutes and could potentially be done in ordinary clinics rather than specialized hospitals.

How the Soft Robot Works

What makes SeroTab especially remarkable is that it works without electronics. There is no battery, no microchip, and no onboard computer inside the device.

Instead, the robot uses smart materials and mechanical design.

Inside the tablet is a special gel that reacts to stomach acid. When the gel comes into contact with acidic fluid, it swells. Embedded disks inside the gel help doctors measure this swelling through ultrasound imaging from outside the body. By observing the amount of swelling, doctors can estimate the acidity level inside the stomach in real time.

This approach removes the need for internal electronic sensors while still delivering valuable medical information.

The device can also collect gastric fluid samples when needed. Researchers built a tiny pump into the robot. A radio signal from outside the body activates the pump, allowing the device to pull stomach fluid into a sealed chamber. After the examination, the tablet can be retrieved and the fluid sample can be sent to a laboratory for detailed analysis.

This could help doctors detect infections, digestive disorders, inflammation, or other stomach-related diseases without using invasive tools.

Inspired by Penguins

One of the most interesting aspects of SeroTab is how it moves.

The robot contains magnetic particles that respond to an external magnet held against the patient’s skin. By moving the handheld magnet, doctors can steer the device through the stomach.

Researchers say the movement was inspired by penguins.

Instead of rolling like a capsule, the soft robot bends slightly and slides along the stomach lining, similar to how penguins slide across ice on their bellies. This motion helps the device move smoothly while staying stable inside the stomach’s slippery environment.

According to researcher Venkat Kalpathy Venkiteswaran, this penguin-inspired movement improved the robot’s navigation and control during testing.

Why This Technology Matters

The development of SeroTab reflects a growing trend in modern medicine: making diagnostics less invasive, more affordable, and easier to access.

Many patients avoid medical examinations because procedures like endoscopy can feel intimidating or painful. In some countries, patients may wait months for appointments because trained specialists and equipment are limited.

A swallowable robotic tablet could dramatically reduce these barriers.

Since SeroTab relies on ultrasound imaging and magnetic control, hospitals may not need expensive robotic systems or complicated internal electronics. Clinics with basic ultrasound equipment could potentially perform stomach examinations more quickly and safely.

This could be especially valuable in rural areas or developing regions where advanced medical infrastructure is limited.

The absence of electronics also reduces complexity and may improve safety. Traditional electronic devices inside the body require batteries, wiring, or wireless communication systems. SeroTab avoids many of these challenges by using soft materials and mechanical responses instead.

Future Possibilities

Although the current version focuses on measuring acidity and collecting gastric fluid, researchers believe future versions of the robot could do much more.

Upcoming models may be able to detect internal bleeding, monitor temperature, identify signs of disease, or even deliver medicine directly to specific areas inside the stomach.

Because the robot is soft and flexible, it may also reduce the risk of irritation compared to rigid medical tools.

Researchers have already tested the technology successfully in animal models. The next major step will involve further safety studies and eventual human clinical testing before the device can become widely available in hospitals and clinics.

If successful, SeroTab could become one of the first practical examples of electronics-free soft robotics being used in everyday medical care.

The Rise of Soft Robotics in Medicine

Soft robotics is an emerging field that focuses on building machines from flexible materials instead of hard metal components. Unlike traditional robots, soft robots can safely interact with delicate environments such as the human body.

Scientists around the world are exploring soft robotic technologies for surgery, rehabilitation, drug delivery, and internal diagnostics. Devices like SeroTab show how biology-inspired engineering can lead to safer and more patient-friendly medical tools.

The combination of soft materials, magnetic control, and ultrasound tracking may represent an entirely new direction for non-invasive healthcare.

A Small Robot With Big Potential

What makes SeroTab exciting is not just its technology, but its practical impact on patients.

For millions of people who currently face uncomfortable endoscopy procedures, a swallowable robotic tablet could offer a far easier alternative. A quick clinic visit, a handheld magnet, and an ultrasound scan may someday replace tubes and cameras.

The robot may look simple from the outside, but behind it lies a powerful idea: advanced medical diagnostics do not always need complicated electronics. Sometimes, smart materials and clever engineering are enough.

As soft robotics continues to evolve, tiny devices like SeroTab could reshape how doctors explore and monitor the human body — making healthcare more comfortable, accessible, and efficient for everyone.

Reference: Chen Wang et al, Electronics-free soft robotic minitablet for on-demand gastric molecular sensing and diagnostics in vivo, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aea3309.

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