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Desktop-level small automatic guided vehicle driven by a liquid metal droplet
Zhenyou Ge1, Wenshang Guo1, Ye Tao1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, West Da-zhi Street 92, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, People's Republic of China. rykhit@hit.edu.cn.
Lab on a Chip
|January 26, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a controllable liquid metal (LM) vehicle by encasing it in rigid armor. A small automatic guided vehicle (sAGV) system enables precise trajectory following and cargo transport, overcoming LM fluidity challenges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Gallium-based liquid metals (LMs) offer unique properties for intelligent material applications.
- The high fluidity of LMs presents significant challenges for precise motion control in vehicles.
- Existing LM-driven vehicles lack robust automatic control capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a controllable traction vehicle using liquid metal encapsulated in rigid armor.
- To develop a desktop-level small automatic guided vehicle (sAGV) system for precise LM vehicle navigation.
- To demonstrate the sAGV system's capability for trajectory following and cargo transportation.
Main Methods:
- Simulation and analysis of LM droplet-driven vehicle characteristics.
- Experimental measurement of LM vehicle velocity under varying factors.
- Integration of an external control circuit to create the sAGV system for trajectory control.
Main Results:
- A novel LM vehicle design enhancing controllability through rigid armor.
- Successful simulation and experimental validation of LM vehicle movement dynamics.
- Demonstration of the sAGV system's ability to guide the LM vehicle along a predetermined path.
Conclusions:
- The developed sAGV system achieves automatic and precise control of LM vehicle movement.
- Encasing LMs in rigid armor significantly improves vehicle maneuverability.
- This work lays the foundation for complex micro-operating systems and precise control applications.
