Design and validation of the control circuits for a micro-cantilever tool for a micro-robot

Arbat, A.; Edqvist, Erik; Casanova, R.; Brufau, J.; Canals, Joan; Samitier, J.; Johansson, Stefan; Diéguez, Ángel

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2009.04.030

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Both MCL and organic transistor technologies are able to overcome these drawbacks and improve the performance of devices currently on the market. These devices together with label-free detection capabilities hold advantages such as the possibility to be integrated into an electronic circuit and cost-effective mass production using large-area electronic technologies [121][122][123]. In this respect it must be underlined that MCLs can be fabricated through standard integrated circuit production procedures based on silicon technology, a much more mature approach than organic electronics technology.…”

Section: Microcantilevers Vs Organic Transistors: Comparison and Futmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microcantilevers and organic transistors: two promising classes of label-free biosensing devices which can be integrated in electronic circuits

et al. 2011

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Most of the success of electronic devices fabricated to actively interact with a biological environment relies on the proper choice of materials and efficient engineering of surfaces and interfaces. Organic materials have proved to be among the best candidates for this aim owing to many properties, such as the synthesis tunability, processing, softness and self-assembling ability, which allow them to form surfaces that are compatible with biological tissues. This review reports some research results obtained in the development of devices which exploit organic materials' properties in order to detect biologically significant molecules as well as to trigger/capture signals from the biological environment. Among the many investigated sensing devices, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and microcantilevers (MCLs) have been chosen. The main factors motivating this choice are their label-free detection approach, which is particularly important when addressing complex biological processes, as well as the possibility to integrate them in an electronic circuit. Particular attention is paid to the design and realization of biocompatible surfaces which can be employed in the recognition of pertinent molecules as well as to the research of new materials, both natural and inspired by nature, as a first approach to environmentally friendly electronics.

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Section: Microcantilevers Vs Organic Transistors: Comparison and Futmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microcantilevers and organic transistors: two promising classes of label-free biosensing devices which can be integrated in electronic circuits

et al. 2011

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“…More tests were carried out to check the correct function of the VCS [17] and the SoC. Table IV summarizes the performances of the SoC.…”

Section: Soc Tests and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The VCS is a cantilever of 2.85 mm 0.4 mm made of the same piezoelectrical material and multilayer structure as the legs but the last copolymer layer is used as a sensor to measure defections [17]. Electrical charges proportional to the amplitude of the deflections are produced at the sensing layer when the tip is bent.…”

Section: Sensingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The output voltage of the sensing layer varies between 300 mV when a 3.6 V square waveform is applied. Tactile measurement in I-SWARM microrobots consists on making the VCS vibrate at its resonance frequency with a periodic square wave signal of 3.6 V in amplitude [17]. If the tip touches an object, the amplitude of the vibrations are reduced or even stopped.…”

Section: Sensingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, I-SWARM microrobots use low-voltage actuators [14] which it means that no high-voltage power electronics are required [8]- [15]. Each I-SWARM microrobot has a locomotion unit [16], a vibrating contact sensor (VCS) to detect near objects [17], a miniaturized optical system to communicate with other I-SWARM microrobots through short infrared links [18], and is powered by a segmented solar cell. The energy generated at the solar cells, 1 mW@1.4 V and 500 W@3.6 V, is stored in two Tantalum capacitors of 10 F and a 22 F, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

An Optically Programmable SoC for an Autonomous Mobile mm$^{3}$-Sized Microrobot

Casanova

Arbat

Alonso

et al. 2011

IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I

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Recent progresses in miniaturization of sensors and actuators have yielded to the first attempt to create an mm 3 -sized autonomous robot with sensing capabilities called I-SWARM. The robot is conceived to interact with other I-SWARM robots in order to create a robotic swarm. It is provided with a locomotion unit, an infrared communication system, a contact sensor, solar cells for powering, and a system on chip (SoC) that acts as the brain of the robot. All these components are mounted over a flexible printed circuit board, being I-SWARM a real system in package (SiP). The SoC communicates with other I-SWARMs, sense its environment, processes data and takes decisions, as for example moving, with less than 1.5 mW. Different electronic circuits (power electronics, buffers, ADCs, DACs, control units, analog transducers, and even an oscillator) have been embedded in the SoC due to the limited area, less than 3 3 mm 2 . The SoC is reprogrammable optically in order to change the behavior of the microrobot.Index Terms-Hardware/software partition, low power, microrobot, system on chip.

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Developments and Challenges of Miniature Piezoelectric Robots: A Review

Li,

Deng,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Advanced Science

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Miniature robots have been widely studied and applied in the fields of search and rescue, reconnaissance, micromanipulation, and even the interior of the human body benefiting from their highlight features of small size, light weight, and agile movement. With the development of new smart materials, many functional actuating elements have been proposed to construct miniature robots. Compared with other actuating elements, piezoelectric actuating elements have the advantages of compact structure, high power density, fast response, high resolution, and no electromagnetic interference, which make them greatly suitable for actuating miniature robots, and capture the attentions and favor of numerous scholars. In this paper, a comprehensive review of recent developments in miniature piezoelectric robots (MPRs) is provided. The MPRs are classified and summarized in detail from three aspects of operating environment, structure of piezoelectric actuating element, and working principle. In addition, new manufacturing methods and piezoelectric materials in MPRs, as well as the application situations, are sorted out and outlined. Finally, the challenges and future trends of MPRs are evaluated and discussed. It is hoped that this review will be of great assistance for determining appropriate designs and guiding future developments of MPRs, and provide a destination board to the researchers interested in MPRs.

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Design and validation of the control circuits for a micro-cantilever tool for a micro-robot

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

Microcantilevers and organic transistors: two promising classes of label-free biosensing devices which can be integrated in electronic circuits

Microcantilevers and organic transistors: two promising classes of label-free biosensing devices which can be integrated in electronic circuits

An Optically Programmable SoC for an Autonomous Mobile mm$^{3}$-Sized Microrobot

Developments and Challenges of Miniature Piezoelectric Robots: A Review

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