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This paper presents our work over the last decade in developing functional microrobotic systems, which include wireless actuation of microrobots to traverse complex surfaces, addition of sensing capabilities, and independent actuation of swarms of microrobots. We will discuss our work on the design, fabrication, and testing of a number of different mobile microrobots that are able to achieve these goals. These microrobots include the microscale magnetorestrictive asymmetric bimorph microrobot ( μ MAB), our first attempt at magnetic actuation in the microscale; the microscale tumbling microrobot ( μ TUM), our microrobot capable of traversing complex surfaces in both wet and dry conditions; and the micro-force sensing magnetic microrobot ( μ FSMM), which is capable of real-time micro-force sensing feedback to the user as well as intuitive wireless actuation. Additionally, we will present our latest results on using local magnetic field actuation for independent control of multiple microrobots in the same workspace for microassembly tasks.
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This content will become publicly available on June 16, 2026
Rapid Discovery of Sequence‐Encoded Magnetically Reconfigurable Microrobots Using Monte Carlo Simulations
Reconfigurable microrobots promise advancements in microsurgical tools, self‐healing materials, and environmental remediation by enabling precise, adaptive functionalities at small scales. However, predicting their behaviors a priori remains a significant challenge, limiting the pace of design and discovery. To address this, a Monte Carlo simulation framework is presented for predicting the folding behavior of self‐assembled, sequence‐encoded microrobot chains composed of magnetic particles, enabling efficient exploration of their large design space. This computational framework employs metrics of radius of gyration, tortuosity, and symmetry score to map the design space, identify functional sequences, and predict likely folding behaviors before fabrication. The framework through experiments to demonstrate accuracy in capturing folding behaviors is validated. Statistical analysis reveals adherence to self‐avoiding walk principles from polymer theory, providing a foundation for understanding how input sequences drive folding capabilities. Moreover, the simulation surpasses current experimental capabilities, enabling exploration of novel microrobot designs, such as sequences incorporating mixtures of cubes and triangular prism subunits, which exhibit distinct compressive behaviors. Beyond the sequence‐encoded microrobots investigated in this study, this framework offers broad utility for the design of reconfigurable microscale systems by reducing reliance on experimental prototyping and accelerating discovery of new functional microrobots for use in biomedicine, materials engineering, and sustainability.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2022138
- PAR ID:
- 10630701
- Publisher / Repository:
- Advanced Intelligence Systems
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advanced Intelligent Systems
- ISSN:
- 2640-4567
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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