The principle behind normal movement methods is that stationary robotic cubes provide the actuation method while the robotic cubes in movement are not powered up. Pneumatic power come into its own in micro technology applications. The problem is that micro machines are small but they require an enormous amount of power to be developed in relation to their size. Tiny drills for example may need to spin up to 30,000 r.p.m. A tiny gear wheel with angled slots make excellent propellers, and these can easily be forced to spin up to 100,000 r.p.m. by blowing air past them.
Air also acts as cooling agent and material removal agent.
In comparison with fluids, air does not contaminate the objects that are being machined. As the size of robotic cubes reach for 1 mm and below, pneumatic power and tiny pneumatic machinery will play a very important role in miniaturising the factory floor. Without self repair, a microscope and an operator is always needed when something goes wrong. For micro machines, moving parts can wear down in 3 minutes at full speed, and therefore, it is not feasible to move current lab bound technologies into commercial operations. Self repair is built into robotic cubes, and this more than anything else will ensure that micro technology is a greatly expanded commercial technology of the future.