Introduction
Emulating the intricate forms and functions of biological entities, from large-scale humanoids to microscale biorobots, remains a central aspiration in robotics. While miniature robots hold immense potential for applications within the human body, such as disease diagnosis and targeted drug delivery, replicating the remarkable deformability, splitting, merging, and engulfing capabilities of living cells has proven to be a significant challenge. This article introduces a novel approach to overcome these limitations by harnessing the fluidity of liquids within a stable, adaptable shell.
InsideAIRobotics.com present Particle-armored liquid roBots (PBs), a unique liquid-particle composite designed to bridge the gap between traditional robotics and the dynamic nature of biological systems, paving the way for bio-inspired machines with unprecedented versatility.
Particle-armored liquid roBot (PB) consist of a liquid core coated with a dense layer of hydrophobic particles, enabling them to perform various robotic functions. This design aims to mimic the fluidity and adaptability of biological cells, which traditional robots struggle to replicate.
Key Points and Discussion
- Enhanced Stability and Strength:
- The stability and strength of liquid-solid composites like PBs depend on the ratio of particle mass to liquid volume.
- PBs are fabricated using cuboid ice molds, which have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio compared to the spherical drops used in conventional liquid marbles (LMs).
- This increased ratio allows PBs to carry more particles, enhancing their stability and preventing collapse under mechanical or thermal stress.
- In contrast, conventional LMs, which use spherical drops, have a lower particle mass per volume and are more prone to collapse.
- The enhanced strength and stability of PBs enable them to perform functions that LMs cannot, such as navigating complex environments and repetitive splitting and merging.
- This concept of increasing stability by modifying the surface area to volume ratio is also seen in biological systems. For example, cells often change their shape to increase surface area for better nutrient absorption or interaction with their environment.
- Acoustic-Driven Propulsion:
- The movement of PBs can be controlled using acoustic fields, providing a non-contact and flexible means of propulsion.
- An ultrasonic transducer is used to generate acoustic radiation force, which propels the PBs.
- This method allows for precise control of PB movement, enabling complex tasks such as merging and splitting.
- Acoustic propulsion is also utilized in other robotic systems, such as in the movement of micro-robots for drug delivery, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness.
- Versatile Robotic Functions:
- PBs exhibit a range of versatile robotic functions, including penetration through complex structures, engulfing and transporting cargo, merging, and skimming on water surfaces.
- Their ability to penetrate hydrophilic pillar arrays, unlike LMs, highlights their superior adaptability.
- PBs can selectively engulf hydrophilic particles, demonstrating a level of control similar to biological phagocytes.
- The merging of PBs under acoustic force allows for complex operations, such as chemical reactions within the merged entity.
- PBs can also transition from water to land without collapsing, a crucial feature for applications in diverse environments.
- These capabilities are integrated into a virtual mission where PBs retrieve a hazardous material, neutralize it with an antidote, and transport it to a safe container, showcasing their potential as versatile liquid robots.
Conclusion
The development of Particle-armored liquid roBots represents a significant advancement in liquid robotics. By enhancing the particle-to-liquid ratio and utilizing acoustic-driven propulsion, PBs demonstrate superior stability, strength, and versatility compared to conventional liquid marbles. Their potential applications in complex and dynamic environments, including biomedical and biochemical fields, are vast and promising.
(Source: Particle-armored liquid robots)
