In regards to real-world applicability for this kind of technology, it seems like the Delta Quadrant is the limit. Not only are Doherty, Kraft, and their colleagues going to continue developing microswimmers for the sake of studying micro-propulsion, but, according to a recent paper they published in the journal, Soft Matter, they also have an eye on diagnostic and drug delivery use cases. Which means one day soon-ish, you could have a starship battling invading Borgs of bacteria in your body!




https://nerdist.com/article/micro-uss-voyager-star-trek-self-propelling/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=social+flow&fbclid=IwAR1h3XqeA2gjzKFJtuYIGv9lbUzEq8rY0GbzXW4UHlaIXR1xuajJf8KZ5Bg