posted on 2019-08-21, 12:37authored byXiaolong Lu, Kangdong Zhao, Wenjuan Liu, Dongxin Yang, Hui Shen, Hanmin Peng, Xiasheng Guo, Jinxing Li, Joseph Wang
Micro/nanorobotic
systems capable of targeted transporting and
releasing hold considerable promise for drug delivery, cellular surgery,
biosensing, nano assembling, etc. However, on-demand
precise control of the micro/nanorobot movement remains a major challenge.
In particular, a practical interface to realize instant and customized
interactions between human and micro/nanorobots, which is quite essential
for developing next generation intelligent micro/nanorobots, has seldom
been explored. Here, we present a human–microrobot user interface
to perform direct and agile recognition of user commands and signal
conversion for driving the microrobot. The microrobot platform is
built based on locally enhanced acoustic streaming which could precisely
transport microparticles and cells along a given pathway, while the
interface is enabled by tuning the actuation frequency and time with
different instructions and inputs. Our numerical simulations and experimental
demonstrations illustrate that microparticles can be readily transported
along the path by the acoustic robotic system, due to the vibration-induced
locally enhanced acoustic streaming and resultant propulsion force.
The acoustic robotic platform allows large-scale parallel transportation
for microparticles and cells along given paths. The human microrobot
interface enables the micromanipulator to response promptly to the
users’ commands input by typing or music playing for accurate
transport. For example, the music tone of a playing melody is used
for manipulating a cancer cell to a targeted position. The interface
offers several attractive capabilities, including tunable speed and
orientation, quick response, considerable delivery capacities, high
precision and favorable controllability. We expect that such interface
will work as a compelling and versatile platform for myriad potential
scenarios in transportation units of microrobots, single cell analysis
instruments, lab-on-chip systems, microfactories, etc.