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A Magnetic-Field-Assisted Milli-Scale Robotic Assembly Machine: An Approach to Parallel Robotic Automation Systems.
Yan Liu1,2, Nuggehalli M Ravindra3,4
1Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science & Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 323 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. tcliuyan@gmail.com.
Micromachines
|November 15, 2018
Summary
This study introduces a new milli-scale robotic assembly machine using programmable magnetic fields to control multiple microrobots. The system successfully demonstrated simultaneous pick-and-place operations for light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Manufacturing Automation
- Micro-assembly
Background:
- Heterogeneous integration of small devices using microrobots is a key goal in advanced manufacturing.
- Current methods face challenges in precise, large-scale parallel manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel milli-scale robotic assembly machine for highly parallel microrobot manipulation.
- To showcase the capability for simultaneous pick-and-place operations of micro-devices.
Main Methods:
- Development of a prototype assembly machine with a 16x16 array of electromagnets.
- Utilizing a programmable magnetic field for precise control of microrobots.
- Design and modeling of specialized microrobots for assembly tasks.
Main Results:
- Successful simultaneous manipulation of up to nine milli-scale robots.
- Proof-of-concept demonstration of two microrobots performing simultaneous pick-and-place of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
- Validation of the machine's highly parallel assembly capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed milli-scale robotic assembly machine offers a promising solution for advanced manufacturing automation.
- The system enables precise, parallel manipulation and assembly of micro-scale components.
- This technology paves the way for more complex heterogeneous integration of micro-devices.
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