Microrobot Design Using Fiber Reinforced Composites

TLDR

Mobile microrobots (~1 cm) are difficult to design with MEMS or precision machining because building high‑strength links and low‑loss joints at micron scale is challenging. The authors introduce a novel microrobot design framework that leverages composite materials to create robots that are cheaper, faster, and superior to existing methods. Their framework, called smart composite microstructures (SCM), uses laser micromachining and lamination to integrate rigid links, large‑angle flexure joints, and address actuation and wiring at micron scale. The resulting framework, coupled with tailored design rules, proves to be a cheaper, quicker, and overall superior method for producing microrobots, positioning it as a potential paradigm shift.

Abstract

Mobile microrobots with characteristic dimensions on the order of 1cm are difficult to design using either microelectromechanical systems technology or precision machining. This is due to the challenges associated with constructing the high strength links and high-speed, low-loss joints with micron scale features required for such systems. Here, we present an entirely new framework for creating microrobots, which makes novel use of composite materials. This framework includes a new fabrication process termed smart composite microstructures (SCM) for integrating rigid links and large angle flexure joints through a laser micromachining and lamination process. We also present solutions to actuation and integrated wiring issues at this scale using SCM. Along with simple design rules that are customized for this process, our new complete microrobotic framework is a cheaper, quicker, and altogether superior method for creating microrobots that we hope will become the paradigm for robots at this scale.