Miniaturized Swimming Soft Robot with Complex Movement Actuated and Controlled by Remote Light Signals.

ABSTRACT: Powering and communication with micro robots to enable complex functions is a long-standing challenge as the size of robots continues to shrink. Physical connection of wires or components needed for wireless communication are complex and limited by the size of electronic and energy storage devices, making miniaturization of robots difficult. To explore an alternative solution, we designed and fabricated a micro soft swimming robot with both powering and controlling functions provided by remote light, which does not carry any electronic devices and batteries. In this approach, a polymer film containing azobenzene chromophore which is sensitive to ultra-violet (UV) light works as "motor", and the UV light and visible light work as "power and signal lines". Periodically flashing UV light and

SUBMITTER: Huang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4668837 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature