Spinning-enabled wireless amphibious origami millirobot.

Journal: Nature communications
Published Date: Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

Wireless millimeter-scale origami robots have recently been explored with great potential for biomedical applications. Existing millimeter-scale origami devices usually require separate geometrical components for locomotion and functions. Additionally, none of them can achieve both on-ground and in-water locomotion. Here we report a magnetically actuated amphibious origami millirobot that integrates capabilities of spinning-enabled multimodal locomotion, delivery of liquid medicine, and cargo transportation with wireless operation. This millirobot takes full advantage of the geometrical features and folding/unfolding capability of Kresling origami, a triangulated hollow cylinder, to fulfill multifunction: its geometrical features are exploited for generating omnidirectional locomotion in various working environments through rolling, flipping, and spinning-induced propulsion; the folding/unfolding is utilized as a pumping mechanism for controlled delivery of liquid medicine; furthermore, the spinning motion provides a sucking mechanism for targeted solid cargo transportation. We anticipate the amphibious origami millirobots can potentially serve as minimally invasive devices for biomedical diagnoses and treatments.

Authors

  • Qiji Ze
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
  • Shuai Wu
    School of Computer Science and Technology, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, China.
  • Jize Dai
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
  • Sophie Leanza
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
  • Gentaro Ikeda
    Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
  • Phillip C Yang
    Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
  • Gianluca Iaccarino
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
  • Ruike Renee Zhao
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. rrzhao@stanford.edu.

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