It seems like something straight out of Star Wars or some Sci-Fi. But now we really have micro-robots that can essentially levitate or fly around.

Called the flying MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) robot, the device defies the force of gravity by flying or levitating, powered by a magnetic field.

The most applicable use for this robot is for surgeries it can levitate above the patient and micro manage even the tiniest of objects. It can do what some of the world’s best surgeons can’t. Besides the flying part. The parts it manipulates during surgery are too small for a human to interact with.

It moves around and manipulates objects with magnets attached to micro-grippers, remotely controlled by a laser-focusing beam, the university statement said.

The mechanism controls that magnetic field by using feedback from position sensors in order to position the micro-robot. Since the power is supplied externally, the micro-robot can be maneuvered.