Omnidirectional Walking Microrobot Realized by Thermal Microactuator Arrays

Author(s):  
Matthew H. Mohebbi ◽  
Mason L. Terry ◽  
Karl F. Böhringer ◽  
Gregory T. A. Kovacs ◽  
John W. Suh

Abstract An omnidirectional mobile microrobot realized by micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) actuator arrays is presented. The microrobot consists of two rigidly connected microcilia array chips, each having an 8 × 8 array of “motion pixels,” which are composed of four orthogonally oriented thermal bimorph actuators. This allows for reliable, accurate motion in three degrees of freedom (x,y,θ) in the plane, a first for a microrobot of this kind. The microrobot is approximately 3cm in length, 1cm in width, 1mm in height, and has a mass of less than half a gram. By varying the input power, actuation frequency and motion gait strategy the velocity of the chip can be precisely controlled. Motion in three degrees of freedom has been demonstrated and a maximum velocity of 635 μm/s and carrying capacity greater than 1.448 g (two 8-pin ICs) has been observed. The microrobot has been characterized extensively and a model for its performance is described.

Author(s):  
Mark D. Bedillion

Actuator arrays are planar distributed manipulation systems that use multiple two degree-of-freedom actuators to manipulate objects with three degrees of freedom (x, y, and θ). Prior work has discussed actuator array dynamics while neglecting the inertia of the actuators; this paper extends prior work to the case of non-negligible actuator inertia. The dynamics are presented using a standard friction model incorporating stiction. Simulation results are presented that show object motion under previously derived control laws.


Author(s):  
Mark D. Bedillion ◽  
Deepak Parajuli ◽  
Randy C. Hoover

Actuator arrays are planar distributed manipulation systems that use multiple two degree-of-freedom actuators to manipulate objects with three degrees of freedom (x, y, and θ). This paper describes methods of sensing the position and orientation of objects on an actuator array using only binary object sensors at each actuator. The object sensor information, when combined, forms a binary image of the object which may be processed to recover object pose. The methods’ effectiveness for rectangular objects is verified via simulation.


Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junnan Qian ◽  
Yangmin Li ◽  
Lukai Zhuge

A novel type of spatial three revolute-cylindrical-universal (3-RCU) flexible micro manipulator is designed based on flexible hinges, and analyzed by finite element analysis (FEA). The piezoelectric actuators are adopted as driving devices in this platform, a new lever amplification mechanism is designed as its micro-displacement amplification mechanism, the workspace of the platform is enlarged, and the theoretical and simulation amplification ratios of the amplification mechanism are 3.056 and 2.985, respectively. The margin of error is just 2.3%. In space, the 3-RCU platform can realize the micro movement of three degrees of freedom. Also, the platform has a high carrying capacity, less motion loss, and the transmission efficiency is higher when the platform works. The decoupling performance, stress under extreme conditions and natural frequency of the platform are simulated by ANSYS Workbench software. A series of simulation analyses show the feasibility and security of the platform. The platform has good decoupling and working performance. The simulation results show that the platform has high simulation stiffness and high positioning accuracy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (13) ◽  
pp. 372-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan E. Andrade García ◽  
Alejandra Ferreira de Loza ◽  
Luis T. Aguilar ◽  
Ramón I. Verdés

Author(s):  
A. H. S. Iyer ◽  
M. H. Colliander

Abstract Background The trend in miniaturisation of structural components and continuous development of more advanced crystal plasticity models point towards the need for understanding cyclic properties of engineering materials at the microscale. Though the technology of focused ion beam milling enables the preparation of micron-sized samples for mechanical testing using nanoindenters, much of the focus has been on monotonic testing since the limited 1D motion of nanoindenters imposes restrictions on both sample preparation and cyclic testing. Objective/Methods In this work, we present an approach for cyclic microcantilever bending using a micromanipulator setup having three degrees of freedom, thereby offering more flexibility. Results The method has been demonstrated and validated by cyclic bending of Alloy 718plus microcantilevers prepared on a bulk specimen. The experiments reveal that this method is reliable and produces results that are comparable to a nanoindenter setup. Conclusions Due to the flexibility of the method, it offers straightforward testing of cantilevers manufactured at arbitrary position on bulk samples with fully reversed plastic deformation. Specific microstructural features, e.g., selected orientations, grain boundaries, phase boundaries etc., can therefore be easily targeted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Liu ◽  
Ming Zou ◽  
Chuan Wu ◽  
Mengqi Cai ◽  
Guangyun Min ◽  
...  

A new quad bundle conductor galloping model considering wake effect is proposed to solve the problem of different aerodynamic coefficients of each subconductor of iced quad bundle conductor. Based on the quasistatic theory, a new 3-DOF (three degrees of freedom) galloping model of iced quad bundle conductors is established, which can accurately reflect the energy transfer and galloping of quad bundle conductor in three directions. After a series of formula derivations, the conductor stability judgment formula is obtained. In the wind tunnel test, according to the actual engineering situation, different variables are set up to accurately simulate the galloping of iced quad bundle conductor under the wind, and the aerodynamic coefficient is obtained. Finally, according to the stability judgment formula of this paper, calculate the critical wind speed of conductor galloping through programming. The dates of wind tunnel test and calculation in this paper can be used in the antigalloping design of transmission lines.


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