Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025
08:02
Robotic Sensing and Stimuli Provision for Guided Plant Growth
Published on: July 1, 2019
8.1K
Submillimeter-scale multimaterial terrestrial robots
Mengdi Han1, Xiaogang Guo2,3, Xuexian Chen4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Science Robotics
|May 25, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed untethered, 3D robots using novel manufacturing and actuation. These micro-robots offer complex geometries and heterogeneous materials for advanced applications in medicine and biology.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Submillimeter robots are crucial for minimally invasive surgery and cellular manipulation.
- Current limitations in materials and structures hinder the performance of micro-robots.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop untethered, terrestrial robots with complex 3D geometries and heterogeneous materials.
- To overcome manufacturing and actuation constraints in micro-robotics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized controlled mechanical buckling for 3D multimaterial structure fabrication.
- Employed a one-way shape memory alloy and elastic shell for reversible deformations.
- Implemented laser-induced thermal actuation for diverse locomotion modes.
Main Results:
- Successfully created 3D multimaterial structures with diverse configurations.
- Demonstrated reversible deformations enabling various movements like crawling, walking, and jumping.
- Integrated photonic structures for wireless monitoring and localization.
Conclusions:
- Advances in materials, manufacturing, and actuation enable sophisticated micro-robot capabilities.
- These developments pave the way for untethered micro-robots in medicine and biology.
- The study contributes to the growing field of micro-robotics technology.
