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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Microparticle Manipulation by Standing Surface Acoustic Waves with Dual-frequency Excitations
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Acoustically powered surface-slipping mobile microrobots.

Amirreza Aghakhani1, Oncay Yasa1, Paul Wrede1

  • 1Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 5, 2020
PubMed
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This summary is machine-generated.

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Acoustically powered microrobots achieve fast, controlled surface locomotion for minimally invasive medical interventions. Magnetic steering enhances navigation in confined body areas.

Area of Science:

  • Robotics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Acoustofluidics

Background:

  • Untethered synthetic microrobots show promise for minimally invasive medical procedures.
  • Limitations include slow speeds and poor surface controllability, hindering practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop acoustically powered microrobots with enhanced speed and directional control for surface locomotion.
  • To overcome existing barriers in microrobot speed and controllability for medical applications.

Main Methods:

  • 3D-printed, bullet-shaped microrobots with internal air bubbles resonated by acoustic waves.
  • Unidirectional locomotion achieved via a surface fin; magnetic steering enabled by an anisotropic nanofilm coating.
  • Demonstration of locomotion within a 3D microchannel under acoustic actuation.
Keywords:
acoustic actuationbubble oscillationmagnetic controlmicrorobotsmicroswimmers

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 29, 2025

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Main Results:

  • Microrobots exhibit fast, unidirectional surface-slipping locomotion (up to 90 body lengths/sec) on various surfaces.
  • Acoustic bubble oscillation generates propulsion and an attractive wall force.
  • Successful magnetic steering demonstrated for precise motion control.

Conclusions:

  • Acoustic powering and magnetic steering offer effective actuation and navigation for microrobots in confined body regions.
  • This technology advances the potential of microrobots for future minimally invasive medical interventions.