The MMC or Mobile Microrobotics Challenge is an initiative of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Seven teams from various universities have taken part in this challenge.

They are ETH, Zurich, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, FEMTO-ST Institute and the Institut des Systemes Intelligents et de Robotique, ISIR-Paris, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, The University of Maryland, Maryland,  Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, The University of Waterloo, Ontario and The U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.

These teams are competing with their micron-scale robots for three tasks. The robots have to sprint down on a pin headed size of track in a dash of two-millimeter. Then the robots have to insert the pins into their respective holes. Finally there will be a demonstration of a high level of autonomy, system’s reliability, high task complexity and ultra low power consumption.

The tiny microbots are functioned by remote using either magnetic, electrical power. No other power sources or any electronics media has been provided to them. They are too small and the tracks are evenly miniature as well.