Magnetic miniature robots

A method of making a magnetic miniature robot (MMR), the method comprising:

• rotationally deforming a segment of material about a rotational deformation axis, from an initial shape to a deformed shape, the material including a plurality of magnetic particles distributed in an elastic matrix;
• magnetizing the plurality of magnetic particles in the segment in a magnetization process to form a magnetized segment, in the magnetized segment in the deformed shape being characterized by a uniform magnetization profile;
• after the magnetization process, enabling the magnetized segment to elastically recover the initial shape and form a non-uniform magnetization profile;
• and
• coupling together at least one pair of the segments to form a main component, wherein the non-uniform magnetization profiles of the at least one pair of the segment are disposed in opposing orientations to configure the main component with a zero net magnetic moment about a sixth degree-of-freedom (DOF) axis;
• coupling an auxiliary magnet to the main component, the auxiliary magnet being characterized by a uniform magnetization profile, wherein the segment is bounded by a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the rotationally deforming comprises angularly displacing the second surface relative to the first surface, and
• wherein the initial shape defines either 1) a quadrant cross-section, in which case the deformed shape includes a semicircular cross-section or 2) a semicircular cross-section, in which case the deformed shape includes a circular cross-section.