biostudies-literatureUnknown4(1)Hayashi SMicro- and nano-electromechanical systems (M/NEMS) are in high demand for cutting-edge future technological solutions. Their strongly nonlinear nature is regarded as beneficial for optimising performance metrics for a wide range of engineering applications. As model-free experimentation remains limited to forward time observations, important dynamic features can be left uncharted, resulting in an incomplete dynamical landscape. Here we address this issue by employing experimental continuation - a model-free technique for constructing bifurcation diagrams by tracking steady-states and/or periodic responses directly in a physical experiment. This approach is unexplored for investigating micro-scale systems with fast timescales. Our state-of-the-art experiment investigates an active MEMS cantCommunications engineering211https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12695876biostudies-literatureExperimentally characterising the dynamical landscape of an active MEMS cantilever.PMC12695876Gutschmidt SMurray RKrauskopf BHayashi SCameron CfalseExperimentally characterising the dynamical landscape of an active MEMS cantilever.Micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (M/NEMS) are in high demand for cutting-edge future technological solutions. Their strongly nonlinear nature is regarded as beneficial for optimising performance metrics for a wide range of engineering applications. As model-free experimentation remains limited to forward time observations, important dynamic features can be left uncharted, resulting in an incomplete dynamical landscape. Here we address this issue by employing experimental continuation - a model-free technique for constructing bifurcation diagrams by tracking steady-states and/or periodic responses directly in a physical experiment. This approach is unexplored for investigating micro-scale systems with fast timescales. Our state-of-the-art experiment investigates an active MEMS cant2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-06T00:27:43.703Z2026-05-24T03:11:18.566ZS-EPMC126958764137255110.1038/s44172-025-00537-9