Wireless resonant magnetic microactuator for untethered mobile microrobots

Abstract

Power and propulsion are primary challenges in building untethered submillimeter robots. We present a class of actuators utilizing wireless resonant magnetic actuation which accomplishes both tasks with a high degree of control. The actuator harvests magnetic energy from the environment and transforms it to impact-driven mechanical force. It can be powered and controlled with oscillating fields in the kilohertz range and strengths as low as 2mT. The wireless resonant magnetic microactuator was incorporated in microrobots, which measure 300×300×70μm3, that are capable of moving forward, backward, and turning in place while reaching speeds in excess of 12.5mm∕s.