Programming and Controlling the Operations of a Team of Miniature Robots

2002 ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
Paul E. Rybski ◽  
Sascha A. Stoeter ◽  
Maria Gini ◽  
Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Miniature Robots

A distributed surveillance task using miniature robots

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Rybski ◽  
Maria Gini ◽  
Dean F. Hougen ◽  
Sascha A. Stoeter ◽  
Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Miniature Robots

Collective methods of propulsion and steering for untethered microscale nanorobots navigating in the human vascular network

2010 ◽  
Vol 224 (7) ◽  
pp. 1505-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Martel
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Interventional Procedures ◽  
Vascular Network ◽  
Single Type ◽  
Tumour Targeting ◽  
Miniature Robots ◽  
Medical Diagnostic ◽  
Blood Flow Velocities

In the field of medical nanorobotics, nanometre-scale components and phenomena are exploited within the context of robotics to provide new medical diagnostic and interventional procedures, or at least to enhance the existing ones. The best route for such miniature robots to access various regions inside the human body is certainly the vascular network. Such a network is made of nearly 100 000 km of blood vessels varying in diameters from a few millimetres in the arteries down to ∼ 4 μm in the capillaries with respective important variations in blood flow velocities. When injected in the blood circulatory network using existing modern techniques such as catheterization, such robots must travel from larger-diameter vessels before reaching much tinier capillaries. As such, the use of a single type of microscale robots capable of travelling in various environments and conditions related to such different blood vessels while being trackable by an external system seems, at the present time, inconceivable. Therefore, as explained in this article, an approach based on the use of several types of microscale robots with complementary methods of propulsion and steering capable of operating in a collective manner is more likely to achieve better results. This is especially true for interventions such as direct tumour targeting where the tiniest blood vessels such as the ones found in the angiogenesis network must be travelled.

3D printing of functional polymers for miniature machines

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neng Xia ◽  
Dongdong Jin ◽  
Veronica Iacovacci ◽  
Li Zhang
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Functional Polymers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Miniature Robots ◽  
Composite Polymers ◽  
Printing Techniques

Abstract Miniature robots and actuators with micrometer or millimeter scale size can be driven by diverse power sources, e.g., chemical fuels, light, magnetic, and acoustic fields. These machines have the potential to access complex narrow spaces, execute medical tasks, perform environmental monitoring, and manipulate micro-objects. Recent advancements in 3D printing techniques have demonstrated great benefits in manufacturing small-scale structures such as customized design with programmable physical properties. Combining 3D printing methods, functional polymers, and active control strategies enables these miniature machines with diverse functionalities to broaden their potentials in medical applications. Herein, this review provides an overview of 3D printing techniques applicable for the fabrication of small-scale machines and printable functional materials, including shape-morphing materials, biomaterials, composite polymers, and self-healing polymers. Functions and applications of tiny robots and actuators fabricated by 3D printing and future perspectives toward small-scale intelligent machines are discussed.

Infrastructure suited for supporting a fleet of wireless miniature robots designed for atomic-scale operations

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain M. Martel ◽  
Torsten Koker ◽  
Stefen Riebel ◽  
Mark Sherwood ◽  
Jeremy Suurkivi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Miniature Robots

Micromanipulation by Miniature Robots in a SEM Vacuum Chamber

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohmi Fuchiwaki ◽  
◽  
Hisayuki Aoyama
Keyword(s):  
Vacuum Chamber ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
The Other ◽  
Basic Operation ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Miniature Robots ◽  
Robot Cooperation ◽  
Small Robot ◽  
Focus Point ◽  
Scanning Electron

In this paper, we describe flexible micromanipulation organized by insect size robots in scanning electron microscopy. Small robots composed of piezo elements and electromagnets move in the SEM chamber with submicron resolution. They manipulate small objects in cooperation with each other. As a basic operation, one small robot, which has a sliding microtable transports samples at the SEM focus point precisely and this sliding table can be also positioned by the other small robot's manipulation. This two-robot cooperation provides x-y accurate positioning at any location within the chamber. On the sample table, a small robot with a micromanipulator handles small objects for picking up and putting down. The operator controls each robot easily with real-time monitoring of SEM images. This cooperation of small robots in SEM provides flexible, accurate microprocessing performance with low cost.

Miniature and microrobots: a review of recent developments

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Swarm Robotics ◽  
Power Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Miniature Robots ◽  
Healthcare It ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Control ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an insight into recent miniaturised robot developments and applications. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this article discusses the technology and applications of miniature robots and considers swarm robotics, assembly robots, flying robots and their uses in healthcare. It concludes with a brief consideration of the emerging field of nanorobotics. Findings – This shows that all manners of miniaturised terrestrial, airborne and aquatic robots are being developed, but size and weight restraints pose considerable technological challenges, such as power sources, navigation, actuation and control. Prototypes have been developed for military, assembly, medical, environmental and other applications, as well as for furthering the understanding of swarm behaviour. In the longer term, microrobots and nanorobots offer prospects to revolutionise many aspects of healthcare, such as cancer treatment. Originality/value – This study provides details of a wide-ranging selection of miniaturised robot developments.

Analysis of quasi-static and dynamic motion mechanisms for piezoelectric miniature robots

2006 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 632-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urban Simu ◽  
Stefan Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Miniature Robots ◽  
Dynamic Motion
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