Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Charge-Transfer-Mediated Boron Magneto-Ionics: Towards Voltage-Driven Multi-Ion Transport.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Highly Flexible and Conformable ZnO/FeGa Magnetoelectric Heterostructures for Skin wound Healing.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Ossification variants of the distal femoral condyle: longitudinal 3 T MRI evidence of progression to juvenile osteochondritis dissecans in asymptomatic siblings of patients with JOCD.

Skeletal radiology·2026

Same author

Magnetoelectric microrobots for spinal cord injury regeneration.

Nature materials·2026

Same author

Growth in confinement promotes <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> tolerance to antibiotics.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

The Efficacy of Bracing in Nonoperative Care of Medial Femoral Condyle Osteochondritis Dissecans: A Study From the Research in Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee (ROCK) Study Group.

The American journal of sports medicine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly

Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly

Published on: November 4, 2021

Soft micromachines with programmable motility and morphology.

Hen-Wei Huang¹, Mahmut Selman Sakar², Andrew J Petruska¹

¹Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature Communications

|July 23, 2016

Summary

Researchers developed origami-inspired, magnetically powered micromachines capable of complex movements in challenging environments. These advanced microswimmers offer enhanced control and adaptability for biomedical and environmental applications.

More Related Videos

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Published on: December 23, 2022

Using a Microfluidics Device for Mechanical Stimulation and High Resolution Imaging of C. elegans

Using a Microfluidics Device for Mechanical Stimulation and High Resolution Imaging of C. elegans

Published on: February 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly

Patterning of Microorganisms and Microparticles through Sequential Capillarity-assisted Assembly

Published on: November 4, 2021

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Published on: December 23, 2022

Using a Microfluidics Device for Mechanical Stimulation and High Resolution Imaging of C. elegans

Using a Microfluidics Device for Mechanical Stimulation and High Resolution Imaging of C. elegans

Published on: February 19, 2018

Area of Science:

Biomimetic engineering
Micro-robotics
Soft matter physics

Background:

Nature inspires mobile micromachines for navigating complex environments and performing delicate operations.
Existing artificial microswimmers, like flagella-based designs, have limitations in multifunctionality, control, and maneuverability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop novel, magnetically powered micromachines using an origami-inspired approach.
To create micro-robots with complex body plans, reconfigurable shapes, and controllable motility for advanced applications.

Main Methods:

Utilized an origami-inspired rapid prototyping process for fabricating self-folding micromachines.
Engineered magnetic anisotropy in different body parts for dynamic control.
Investigated the impact of tail and body morphology on swimming efficiency.

Main Results:

Successfully developed magnetically powered micromachines with complex, reconfigurable body plans.
Demonstrated dynamic modulation of swimming characteristics by reprogramming mechanical design and magnetic anisotropy.
Showed that tail and body morphologies significantly influence swimming efficiency in soft microswimmers.

Conclusions:

Origami-inspired design enables the creation of sophisticated, magnetically actuated micro-robots.
Soft microswimmers exhibit unique motility characteristics influenced by body design and external magnetic fields, offering new possibilities for micro-robotics.