#microrobotics

[plethoraworldatlas]

Two insect-like robots, a mini-bug and a water strider may be the smallest, lightest and fastest fully functional micro-robots ever known to be created. Such miniature robots could someday be used for work in areas such as artificial pollination, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, micro-fabrication or robotic-assisted surgery. Reporting on their work in the proceedings of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society's International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, the mini-bug weighs in at eight milligrams while the water strider weighs 55 milligrams. Both can move at about six millimeters a second.

...

Both can move at about six millimeters a second.

"That is fast compared to other micro-robots at this scale although it still lags behind their biological relatives," said Conor Trygstad, a PhD student in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and lead author on the work.

An ant typically weighs up to five milligrams and can move at almost a meter per second.

The key to the tiny robots is their tiny actuators that make the robots move.

Trygstad used a new fabrication technique to miniaturize the actuator down to less than a milligram, the smallest ever known to have been made.

"The actuators are the smallest and fastest ever developed for micro-robotics," said Néstor O. Pérez-Arancibia, Flaherty Associate Professor in Engineering at WSU's School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering who led the project.

The actuator uses a material called a shape memory alloy that is able to change shapes when it's heated

[politikwatch]

Sie transportieren #Embryonen und bekämpfen #Krebszellen: Wie Nanoroboter heilen könnten

Die Illustration eines #Nanoroboters an einer Krebszelle

Noch ist ihr Einsatz im menschlichen Körper eine Zukunftsvision: ein #Mikroroboter bekämpft #Krebszellen

[mexicanistnet]

COLMENA, UNAM's lunar marvel, launches Jan 8 with microrobots breaking space size records. A Mexican space odyssey led by 250 young minds aims to conquer the Moon's challenges and revolutionize cosmic exploration.

[biglisbonnews]

A group of scientists made a working liquid metal robot https://www.cell.com/cms/10.1016/j.matt.2022.12.003/attachment/291fbfaf-1e1f-4729-a557-106bb4556a79/mmc3.mp4 From NewScientist: A miniature, shape-shifting robot can liquefy itself and reform, allowing it to complete tasks in hard-to-access places and even escape cages. It could eventually be used as a hands-free soldering machine or a tool for extracting swallowed toxic items. — Read the rest https://boingboing.net/2023/01/26/a-group-of-scientists-made-a-working-liquid-metal-robot.html

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Harnessing magnetic relaxation: 'Pac-Man effect' enables precise organization of superparamagnetic beads

Particles that are larger than regular molecules or atoms yet remain invisible to the naked eye can form a variety of useful structures, including miniature propellers for microrobots, cellular probes, and steerable microwheels designed for targeted drug delivery. Lisa Biswal's team of chemical engineers at Rice University has found that exposing a certain class of such particles—micron-sized beads endowed with a special magnetic sensitivity—to a rapidly alternating, rotating magnetic field causes them to organize into structures that are direction-dependent or anisotropic. This discovery is important because anisotropy can be adjusted to develop new, customizable material structures and properties.

Read more.

[stevebattle]

Ants: Anita, Sandra, Kisha, Tracie, Niqi, and Hope (1995) by James McLurkin, MIT AI Lab, Cambridge, MA. There were six robot ants, all with womens’ names since all worker ants are female. We see McLurkin with his ‘Ant Farm’, and before and after images of the ants foraging for ‘food’, then responding to signals from the first ant to find it. “The Ants are programmed with a subset of Brooks' Subsumption Architecture implemented in 6811 assembly language. A program for the Ants would consist of a group of behaviors, arranged in a hierarchy. … A behavior is a small piece of code that acts like a finite state machine. … This is an effective method of providing the robot with a response for every possible sensory input, without having to explicitly program for every condition. Summing the responses of many behaviors is a much easier task that looking at all of the sensory inputs and then trying to decide what to do. As a result, the robots can exhibit surprisingly complex actions with a very small amount of software. … When a robot finds food, she stops and transmits I-found-food through her IR beacon emitter. Other members in the vicinity that detect this signal head towards her, transmitting I-see-a-robot-with-food from their beacon emitters. Any robot that detects this secondary signal heads towards it until they receive the primary signal, then the head towards the first robot. In this manner, many robots can be vectored towards a large food source quickly.” – The Ants: A Community of Microrobots by James McLurkin.

[shadowspirez]

im sure youll be delighted to know

https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/08/1084696/medical-microrobots-are-still-on-their-way/

JIZZ DELIVERY ROBOTS?!?!?

[genustoys]

Zhero Microrobot and Alien Visitor handheld LCD generic games

[2sundowner69]

Medical microrobots that can travel inside your body are (still) on their way

[koney-toylines]

Random microrobots pics

[bpod-bpod]

Communication Matters

From flocking birds to swimming bacteria, when life moves together it relies on communication. Amoebae are single-cell organisms that use chemicals to communicate when swarming – here researchers mimic their behaviour using a mathematical model to simulate communicating 'agents' (top left). The virtual agents send and receive signals, creating mock chemical patterns (bottom left) which guide a ‘collective movement’ The exchange of signals helps the agents organise themselves, and the direction of their movement (highlighted in rainbow colours) gradually combine into one swirl. The team also develop a larger scale model of a 'field' of particles (right), watching how similar 'droplets' join together into 'streams'. Predicting how order emerges from disorder in different forms of living active matter may help researchers design microrobots set to tasks inside the body, or to use their insights to disrupt harmful swarms of pathogens.

Written by John Ankers

Video from work by Alexander Ziepke and colleagues

Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoSciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany

Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Nature Communications, November 2022

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

[jcmarchi]

Kirigami Principles Drive Breakthrough in Microrobot Design

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/kirigami-principles-drive-breakthrough-in-microrobot-design/

Kirigami Principles Drive Breakthrough in Microrobot Design

Recent years have witnessed significant strides in the field of microscale robotics, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the miniature level. These advancements have paved the way for potential breakthroughs in areas ranging from medical applications to environmental monitoring. In this landscape of innovation, researchers at Cornell University have made a noteworthy contribution, developing microscale robots that can transform their shape on command.

The team, led by Professor Itai Cohen from Cornell’s Department of Physics, has created robots less than one millimeter in size that can change from a flat, two-dimensional form into various three-dimensional shapes. This development, detailed in a paper published in Nature Materials, represents a significant leap forward in the capabilities of microscale robotic systems.

Application of Kirigami Techniques in Robotic Engineering

At the heart of this breakthrough lies an innovative application of kirigami principles to robotic design. Kirigami, a variation of origami that involves cutting as well as folding paper, has inspired engineers to create structures that can change shape in precise and predictable ways.

In the context of these microscale robots, kirigami techniques allow for the incorporation of strategic cuts and folds in the material. This design approach enables the robots to transform from a flat state into complex three-dimensional configurations, granting them unprecedented versatility at the microscale level.

The researchers have dubbed their creation a “metasheet robot.” The term “meta” here refers to metamaterials – engineered materials with properties not found in naturally occurring substances. In this case, the metasheet is composed of numerous building blocks working in concert to produce unique mechanical behaviors.

This metasheet design allows the robot to change its coverage area and expand or contract locally by up to 40%. The ability to adopt various shapes potentially enables these robots to interact with their environment in ways previously unattainable at this scale.

Technical Specifications and Functionality

The microscale robot is constructed as a hexagonal tiling composed of approximately 100 silicon dioxide panels. These panels are interconnected by more than 200 actuating hinges, each measuring about 10 nanometers in thickness. This intricate arrangement of panels and hinges forms the basis of the robot’s shape-shifting capabilities.

The transformation and movement of these robots are achieved through electrochemical activation. When an electrical current is applied via external wires, it triggers the actuating hinges to form mountain and valley folds. This actuation causes the panels to splay open and rotate, enabling the robot to change its shape.

By selectively activating different hinges, the robot can adopt various configurations. This allows it to potentially wrap around objects or unfold back into a flat sheet. The ability to crawl and change shape in response to electrical stimuli demonstrates a level of control and versatility that sets these robots apart from previous microscale designs.

Potential Applications and Implications

The development of these shape-shifting microscale robots opens up a multitude of potential applications across various fields. In the realm of medicine, these robots could revolutionize minimally invasive procedures. Their ability to change shape and navigate through complex bodily structures could make them invaluable for targeted drug delivery or microsurgery.

In the field of environmental science, these robots could be deployed for microscale monitoring of ecosystems or pollutants. Their small size and adaptability would allow them to access and interact with environments that are currently difficult to study.

Furthermore, in materials science and manufacturing, these robots could serve as building blocks for reconfigurable micromachines. This could lead to the development of adaptive materials that can change their properties on demand, opening up new possibilities in fields such as aerospace engineering or smart textiles.

Future Research Directions

The Cornell team is already looking ahead to the next phase of this technology. One exciting avenue of research is the development of what they term “elastronic” materials. These would combine flexible mechanical structures with electronic controllers, creating ultra-responsive materials with properties that surpass anything found in nature.

Professor Cohen envisions materials that can respond to stimuli in programmed ways. For instance, when subjected to force, these materials could “run” away or push back with greater force than they experienced. This concept of intelligent matter governed by principles that transcend natural limitations could lead to transformative applications across multiple industries.

Another area of future research involves enhancing the robots’ ability to harvest energy from their environment. By incorporating light-sensitive electronics into each building block, researchers aim to create robots that can operate autonomously for extended periods.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite the exciting potential of these microscale robots, several challenges remain. One primary concern is scaling up the production of these devices while maintaining precision and reliability. The intricate nature of the robots’ construction presents significant manufacturing hurdles that need to be overcome for widespread application.

Additionally, controlling these robots in real-world environments poses substantial challenges. While the current research demonstrates control via external wires, developing systems for wireless control and power supply at this scale remains a significant hurdle.

Ethical considerations also come into play, particularly when considering potential biomedical applications. The use of microscale robots inside the human body raises important questions about safety, long-term effects, and patient consent that will need to be carefully addressed.

The Bottom Line

The development of shape-shifting microscale robots by Cornell University researchers marks a significant milestone in robotics and materials science. By ingeniously applying kirigami principles to create metasheet structures, this breakthrough opens up a wide array of potential applications, from revolutionary medical procedures to advanced environmental monitoring. 

While challenges in manufacturing, control, and ethical considerations remain, this research lays the groundwork for future innovations such as “elastronic” materials. As this technology continues to evolve, it has the potential to reshape multiple industries and our broader technological landscape, demonstrating once again how advancements at the microscale can lead to outsized impacts on science and society.

[educationtech]

Advancements in Smart Materials for the Next Generation of Mechanical Engineering

Arya College of Engineering & I.T. is revolutionizing the field of mechanical engineering, enabling the creation of innovative systems and devices that can adapt to their environment. As research and development continue to push the boundaries of material science, the potential applications of smart materials in mechanical engineering are vast and transformative. Here's a glimpse into the future of smart materials in this field.

Intelligent Robotics

Smart materials are poised to revolutionize the world of robotics, paving the way for machines that can adapt, regenerate, and change shape. Soft robots composed of smart materials will soon move with the grace of living creatures, while microrobots made from smart materials will deliver targeted medicine to diseased cells. The development of lifelike prosthetic limbs with artificial muscles and tendons is also a promising application of smart materials in robotics.

Self-Healing and Adaptive Structures

Smart materials have the potential to transform the construction industry by enabling self-healing and adaptive structures. Buildings made with smart materials can adjust their windows to block sunlight, self-repair cracks in concrete, and even withstand extreme weather events like earthquakes and hurricanes. These materials can dissipate energy, making them ideal for enhancing the resilience and longevity of civil structures.

Energy Harvesting and Storage

Smart materials are revolutionizing the field of energy harvesting and storage. For example, piezoelectric materials can convert mechanical vibrations into electrical energy, while thermoelectric materials can generate power from temperature differences. These materials have the potential to power a wide range of devices, from wearable electronics to remote sensors, without the need for batteries.

Biomedical Applications

The unique properties of smart materials make them highly suitable for biomedical applications. Shape memory alloys can be used in minimally invasive surgeries, as they can be easily inserted into the body and then triggered to change shape, allowing for the deployment of stents or other medical devices. Smart materials can also be used to create drug delivery systems that release medication in response to specific stimuli, such as changes in pH or temperature.

Wearable Technology

Smart materials are at the heart of wearable technology, enabling devices that can respond to bodily fluids like sweat and detect foreign invaders like viruses. These materials must be comfortable enough for people to wear regularly, making the engineering behind them crucial. Smart sensors that detect blood sugar levels and deliver insulin are just one example of how smart materials are transforming wearable technology.

Challenges and Future Outlook

While the potential of smart materials in mechanical engineering is immense, there are still challenges to overcome. These include cost, scalability, integration with existing technologies, and durability. However, significant progress has been made in recent years, driven by advancements in nanotechnology, material science, and manufacturing techniques. Continued research and collaboration across disciplines are essential for further unlocking the potential of smart materials and accelerating their widespread adoption.As the field of smart materials continues to evolve, it is clear that they will play a crucial role in shaping the future of mechanical engineering. By harnessing the unique properties and adaptive behavior of these materials, engineers can develop innovative technologies and systems that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. From intelligent robotics to self-healing structures and biomedical devices, the applications of smart materials are vast and transformative, promising to revolutionize the way we approach mechanical engineering challenges.

[rassegnanotizie]

Il progetto I-BOT (Implantable microroBOT) della Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di Pisa mira a sviluppare la prima generazione di microrobot impiantabili progettati per navigare in modo controllato e non invasivo nel corpo umano. Finanziato dall'European Research Council (Erc) con un finanziamento di 1,5 milioni di Euro attraverso Erc Starting Grants, I-BOT avrà inizio ufficialmente il 1° gennaio 2025 e durerà cinque anni, sotto la direzione della dott.ssa Veronica Iacovacci, esperta in biorobotica. Iacovacci ha una solida formazione accademica, avendo conseguito la laurea in Ingegneria biomedica all'Università di Pisa e il dottorato in BioRobotica nel 2017. Ha collaborato con istituzioni prestigiose e ha partecipato al progetto Mambo, focalizzato sullo sviluppo di microrobot magnetici per terapie localizzate. Secondo Iacovacci, ricevere il grant Erc rappresenta un'opportunità unica per la crescita professionale, e il progetto I-BOT ha l'obiettivo di sviluppare tecnologie innovative per affrontare sfide nel campo dei dispositivi medici. La microrobotica in medicina trova le sue radici in un'idea letteraria di Isaac Asimov, che nel 1966 nel romanzo "Fantastic Voyage" descrisse un team di chirurghi miniaturizzati in grado di navigare nel corpo umano per salvarne la vita, ispirando così la ricerca nel campo. Negli anni, l'attenzione della comunità scientifica si è concentrata su sistemi di rilascio controllato di farmaci a cellule o tessuti specifici. Il progetto I-BOT intende spostare questo paradigma, cercando di progettare microrobot impiantabili in grado di eseguire interventi medici, come suture e riparazione dei tessuti. Utilizzando ultrasuoni e campi magnetici, i microrobot svilupperanno la capacità di adattare la propria geometria e dimensione per ottimizzarsi secondo la zona del corpo da trattare, esercitando forze sui tessuti circostanti. Innovazioni come queste permetteranno ai microrobot di rimanere in contatto stabile con i tessuti e di operare nel tempo. Durante il progetto, Iacovacci e il suo team analizzeranno vari casi, che comprendono il trattamento di ulcere gastrointestinali, la creazione di innesti vascolari e sistemi di monitoraggio per lesioni tumorali. Questo approccio innovativo promette un notevole avanzamento nelle terapie mediche e nel monitoraggio diagnostico.

[deblala]

Zombie Blood - COVID19 Vaccinated Embalmed Blood For Over 2 Years Shows Continued Self Assembly Nanotechnology Replication, Nano and Microrobot Activity

https://anamihalceamdphd.substack.com/p/zombie-blood-covid19-embalmed-blood?publication_id=956088&post_id=148472266&isFreemail=true&r=1t3cnk&triedRedirect=true