Researchers Use 3D Printing to Turn Microscopic Machines Into Powerful Workers, page 1

Nanomachines are tiny molecules – more than 10,000 lined up side by side would be narrower than the diameter of a human hair – that can move when they receive an external stimulus. They can already deliver medication within a body and serve as computer memories at the microscopic level. But as machines go, they haven’t been able to do much physical work – until now.

...A 3-D printed lattice cube made of this smart material lifted a small coin 1.6 millimeters. ...a big step forward in the effort to get nanomachines doing macro work.

We hope this advance will enable scientists to further develop smart materials and devices. ...molecular machines could be used as soft robots performing complicated tasks similar to what a human hand can do.

Researchers Use 3D Printing to Turn Microscopic Machines Into Powerful Workers

Until now, a number of obstacles have prevented the creation of fully functioning nanobots. With this breakthrough, sounds like most, if not all, of them can be handled soon. Seems the key to converting chemical energy into mechanical work is the structure's ability to shape-shift (I've heard THAT before!). Moving forward...

Here's hoping Bedlam will chime in.