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Micromotors found within microorganisms possess a multitude of unique and advantageous properties, outperforming engineered motors developed thus far. 

Microorganisms possess remarkable locomotion abilities, making them potential candidates for micromachine propulsion.  Here, the use of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii (CR) is explored, a motile green alga, as a micromotor by harnessing its propulsive force with microtraps.

The micromachine empowered with two CRs facing the same direction exhibits complex, random-like motion with yaw, pitch, and roll movements, while the micromachine with four CRs in a circular position each facing the tangential direction of the circle demonstrates controlled rotational motion. These findings highlight the degree of freedom and movement potential of biohybrid micromachines.

Taken together, the structures we have designed to efficiently trap CRs illustrate the potential of harnessing their propulsion force for the effective conversion into mechanical energy for micromachines. This strategy unveils new pathways in fundamental sciences by exploring the dynamics of CRs’ motion, as well as in the research area focusing on micromachines in the liquids that transform motion into work via the activities.