Controlling multiple microrobots: recent progress and future challenges

Chowdhury, Sagar; Jing, Wuming; Cappelleri, David J.

doi:10.1007/s12213-015-0083-6

Cited by 94 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…[1][2][3][4][5] However, magnetic fields are in general not sufficiently selective to address individual actuators at the same time, 6 thus making multiple degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) control difficult. 7 Recently, we have adopted a different approach based on structured light fields to realize many-DoFs soft sub-millimeter robots made of liquid crystalline elastomers. 8 However, photothermal approaches are not suitable for applications that do not permit direct optical access to the working space.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wireless actuation with functional acoustic surfaces

Qiu

Palagi

Mark

et al. 2016

Applied Physics Letters

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Miniaturization calls for micro-actuators that can be powered wirelessly and addressed individually. Here, we develop functional surfaces consisting of arrays of acoustically resonant micro-cavities, and we demonstrate their application as two-dimensional wireless actuators. When remotely powered by an acoustic field, the surfaces provide highly directional propulsive forces in fluids through acoustic streaming. A maximal force of ∼0.45 mN is measured on a 4 × 4 mm2 functional surface. The response of the surfaces with bubbles of different sizes is characterized experimentally. This shows a marked peak around the micro-bubbles' resonance frequency, as estimated by both an analytical model and numerical simulations. The strong frequency dependence can be exploited to address different surfaces with different acoustic frequencies, thus achieving wireless actuation with multiple degrees of freedom. The use of the functional surfaces as wireless ready-to-attach actuators is demonstrated by implementing a wireless and bidirectional miniaturized rotary motor, which is 2.6 × 2.6 × 5 mm3 in size and generates a stall torque of ∼0.5 mN·mm. The adoption of micro-structured surfaces as wireless actuators opens new possibilities in the development of miniaturized devices and tools for fluidic environments that are accessible by low intensity ultrasound fields.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Wireless actuation with functional acoustic surfaces

Qiu

Palagi

Mark

et al. 2016

Applied Physics Letters

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“…The control was demonstrated for a wide range of fluid viscosities of interest in potential microfluidics and medical applications. However, because of the coupled nature of the magnetic actuation, it is not suitable for truly independent control of large number of microrobots [103]. In the single-cell micro/nano automation pipeline, the situations will be much more complex: many micro/nano robots or micro/nano manipulators work together with different tasks and the objects (cell) being handled are heterogeneous.…”

Section: Automatically Acquiring Cellular Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the single-cell micro/nano automation pipeline, the situations will be much more complex: many micro/nano robots or micro/nano manipulators work together with different tasks and the objects (cell) being handled are heterogeneous. So far, there has not been a single approach that can address the problem of independent control of a large team or swarm of microrobots and more systematic approaches of control are needed [103]. Addressing these issues are essential to realize the micro/nano automation system for automatically acquiring cellular features.…”

Section: Automatically Acquiring Cellular Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Micro/Nano Automation Technology in Detecting Cancer Cells for Personalized Medicine

Liu

et al. 2017

IEEE Trans. Nanotechnology

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Abstract-The coming era of personalized cancer treatment is presenting automation with unprecedented opportunities. Currently, the drug susceptibility test of clinical cancer patients is mainly dependent on manual labor with a low level of automation. Automating the process of primary cancer cell detection will potentially have tremendous economic benefits and social significance. Automated cancer cell detection means developing robotic and automation equipments to handle single cells and molecules at the micro/nanometer-scale. The achievements of information science, engineering technology, life sciences, and nanotechnology in the past decades have led to the birth of robots that can perform effective manipulations on single living cells at the micro/nanometerscale in aqueous conditions, opening the door to automated cancer cell detection. However, there is still a huge gap between current single-cell micro/nano automation technology and clinical requirements for personalized medicine. In this paper, we will review the progress of single-cell micro/nano automation technology in recent years and discuss the facing challenges and future directions in three aspects, including automated cell isolation and delivery, automatically acquiring the physiological features of cells and data analysis.

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“…However, several issues are limiting its applicability as they are low force generated, and a high aperture lens is needed to focus the laser, allowing only a very small workspace and the unsuitability for its use in vitro and in vivo [44]. Hu et al [45] developed microrobot actuation and control using optically induced thermocapillary effects.…”

Section: • Optically Actuated Microbotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Dynamic Performance of Microbots in Complex Fluid Flows

Campo-Deaño

2016

Applied Sciences

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Abstract:The use of microbots in biomedicine is a powerful tool that has been an object of study in the last few years. In the special case of using these microdevices in the human circulatory system to remove clots or to deliver drugs, the complex nature of blood flow must be taken into account for their proper design. The dynamic performance, defined in this context as the quantification of the disturbance of the flow around an object (which is essentially dependent on the microbot morphology and the rheological characteristics of the fluid) should be improved in order to diminish the damage inside the patient body and to increase the efficiency when they swim through the main veins or arteries. In this article, different experimental techniques (micro-Particle Image Velocimetry, flow visualization, pressure drop measurements, etc.) are analyzed to assess their dynamic performance when they swim through the human body immersed in complex fluid flows. This article provides a useful guide for the characterization of the dynamic performance of microbots and also highlights the necessity to consider the viscoelastic character of blood in their design.

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Controlling multiple microrobots: recent progress and future challenges

Cited by 94 publications

References 77 publications

Wireless actuation with functional acoustic surfaces

Wireless actuation with functional acoustic surfaces

Applications of Micro/Nano Automation Technology in Detecting Cancer Cells for Personalized Medicine

Assessing the Dynamic Performance of Microbots in Complex Fluid Flows

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