Development of rolling magnetic microrobots

• Published in: Journal of micromechanics and microengineering 2010-08, Vol.20 (8), p.085042-085042
• Main Authors: Jiang, Guan-Lin, Guu, Yunn-Horng, Lu, Chiang-Ni, Li, Pei-Kao, Shen, Hui-Mei, Lee, Lung-Sheng, Yeh, Jerliang Andrew, Hou, Max Ti-Kuang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computer science; control theory; systems; Control theory. Systems; Drying; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Magnetic fields; Magnetization; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Mechanical instruments, equipment and techniques; Microelectronic fabrication (materials and surfaces technology); Microengineering; Micromechanical devices and systems; Micromechanics; Microrobots; Physics; Precision engineering, watch making; Robotics; Rotating; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Silicon
• ISSN: 0960-1317; 1361-6439
• DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/20/8/085042

This paper reports magnetic microrobots with rolling capability. A magnetic object subjected to an externally rotating magnetic field would be rotated due to the tendency of alignment between its internal magnetization and the field. Based on this principle, a magnetic microrobot in a spherical body with a diameter of several hundred microns was designed and fabricated. To remotely power and control the microrobot, a rotating magnet was used to generate a rotating magnetic field. Driven by this field, the microrobot can freely roll on three-dimensional surfaces. These surfaces can be in air, water or silicon oil. In a dry environment, a microrobot with a diameter of 440 mu m achieved a maximum linear speed of 13.2 mm s-1.