Magnetically Switchable Adhesive Millirobots for Universal Manipulation in both Air and Water

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Magnetic soft robots offer potential for intricate manipulation in confined spaces.
• Current challenges include achieving versatile, nondestructive, and switchable interactions for diverse targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop magnetic millirobots with switchable adhesion for universal manipulation of non-magnetic objects.
• To demonstrate amphibious manipulation capabilities in both air and water environments.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of magnetic soft double-reentrant micropillar arrays using two-photon lithography-assisted molding.
• Integration of liquid-repellent properties into the micropillar arrays for enhanced adhesion control.

Main Results:

• The millirobots demonstrated effective manipulation of targets with various geometries (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D).
• Successful execution of complex tasks including circuit repair, mini-turbine assembly, and high-speed underwater turbine rotation.
• Switchable magnetic adhesion enabled versatile and nondestructive target interaction.

Conclusions:

• The developed magnetic millirobots provide a versatile approach for manipulating non-magnetic objects through amphibious adhesion.
• This work introduces a new paradigm in robotic manipulation with potential applications in various fields.