Microscopic robots with onboard digital control.

Journal: Science robotics
Published Date: Sep 21, 2022

Abstract

Autonomous robots-systems where mechanical actuators are guided through a series of states by information processing units to perform a predesigned function-are expected to revolutionize everything from health care to transportation. Microscopic robots are poised for a similar revolution in fields from medicine to environmental remediation. A key hurdle to developing these microscopic robots is the integration of information systems, particularly electronics fabricated at commercial foundries, with microactuators. Here, we develop such an integration process and build microscopic robots controlled by onboard complementary metal oxide semiconductor electronics. The resulting autonomous, untethered robots are 100 to 250 micrometers in size, are powered by light, and walk at speeds greater than 10 micrometers per second. In addition, we demonstrate a microscopic robot that can respond to an optical command. This work paves the way for ubiquitous autonomous microscopic robots that perform complex functions, respond to their environments, and communicate with the outside world.

Authors

  • Michael F Reynolds
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
  • Alejandro J Cortese
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  • Qingkun Liu
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ql59@cornell.edu plm23@cornell.edu itai.cohen@cornell.edu.
  • Zhangqi Zheng
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  • Wei Wang
    State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
  • Samantha L Norris
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  • SunWoo Lee
    Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea.
  • Marc Z Miskin
    Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  • Alyosha C Molnar
    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  • Itai Cohen
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ql59@cornell.edu plm23@cornell.edu itai.cohen@cornell.edu.
  • Paul L McEuen
    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ql59@cornell.edu plm23@cornell.edu itai.cohen@cornell.edu.

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