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Updated: May 14, 2026
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Rod-based Fabrication of Customizable Soft Robotic Pneumatic Gripper Devices for Delicate Tissue Manipulation
Published on: August 2, 2016
Bioinspired ultrasound-driven ultrafast soft microgripper
Chengxi Zhong1,2, Vincent Winderoll1, Khemraj Gautam Kshetri3
1Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
Summary
Scientists developed wireless artificial microcilia called SonoGrippers. These acoustically activated hydrogel microstructures enable ultrafast, remote gripping and manipulation of microscale objects for bioengineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Soft matter physics
- Microrobotics
- Acoustic actuation
Background:
- Acoustic wave interaction with soft matter is key for microscale control.
- Achieving fast, precise, remote actuation in soft matter without compromising biocompatibility is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce wireless artificial microcilia (SonoGrippers) for microscale manipulation.
- Demonstrate ultrafast, reversible, and controllable actuation using acoustic waves.
Main Methods:
- Designed dual microcilia hydrogel structures inspired by natural organisms.
- Utilized acoustic excitation for triggering microcilia actuation.
- Tuned structural designs and acoustic parameters to control deformation and response dynamics.
Main Results:
- SonoGrippers demonstrated ultrafast (~2 ms) actuation for gripping and releasing objects.
- Achieved reversible and controllable microscale manipulation wirelessly.
- Exhibited diverse deformation modes and adaptable gripping performance.
Conclusions:
- SonoGrippers offer a promising platform for next-generation biomedical manipulation and soft microrobotics.
- The technology combines simple fabrication, additive-free operation, wireless control, and biocompatibility.
- Demonstrated robust functionality with biological samples.
