Abstract: Molecular machines can be precisely controlled at micro level and thus have significant application prospects in the fields of molecular devices, nano-engines, health care, intelligent materials and so on. Having won the 2016 Nobel Prize in chemistry, the research on molecular machines still has a long way to go before these beautiful tiny machines enter into practical applications. This article focuses on the research frontiers of molecular machines in recent years, including the fields of synthesis, characterization, constructing of solid-state devices, and setting up functional systems that can perform tasks. The prospects for future research are also raised.