Design, fabrication and actuation of magneto-acoustic microrobots: een deel magnetisch, een ander deel akoestisch, allebei fantastisch

Connecting science fiction and reality, wirelessly-controlled microrobots push the boundaries of minimally invasive surgeries. Recent advances in microsystem technology suggest intelligent methods for design, synthesis and wireless powering of microrobots. The most prevalent of these methods exploit magnetic and acoustic actuation to enable swimming behavior of micro-agents to mimic micro-organisms. In this regard, acoustic manipulation strategies have diversified into various mechanisms ranging from fast microfluidic actuation and levitation systems, to bubble-powered microrobots. Based on these strategies, this project describes a gamut of acoustic microrobots, and the respective actuation mechanisms that could be fruitful for biomedical use. Furthermore, these acoustic microrobots join forces with the traditional magnetic manipulation thereby giving rise to a hybrid magneto-acoustic actuation strategies.