Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers
Worldwide research in microrobotics has exploded in the past two decades, leading to the development of microrobots propelled in various manners. Despite significant advances in the field and successful demonstration of a wide range of applications, microrobots have yet to become the preferred choic...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Advanced Intelligent Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202000256 |
| _version_ | 1818328914067456000 |
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| author | Ada‐Ioana Bunea Daniele Martella Sara Nocentini Camilla Parmeggiani Rafael Taboryski Diederik S. Wiersma |
| author_facet | Ada‐Ioana Bunea Daniele Martella Sara Nocentini Camilla Parmeggiani Rafael Taboryski Diederik S. Wiersma |
| author_sort | Ada‐Ioana Bunea |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Worldwide research in microrobotics has exploded in the past two decades, leading to the development of microrobots propelled in various manners. Despite significant advances in the field and successful demonstration of a wide range of applications, microrobots have yet to become the preferred choice outside a laboratory environment. After introducing available microrobotic propulsion and control mechanisms, microrobots that are manufactured and powered by light are focused herein. Referring to pioneering works and recent interesting examples, light is presented not only as a fabrication tool, by means of two‐photon polymerization direct laser writing, but also as an actuator for microrobots in both hard and soft stimuli–responsive polymers. In this scenario, a number of challenges that yet prevent polymeric light‐powered microrobots from reaching their full potential are identified, whereas potential solutions to overcome said challenges are suggested. As an outlook, a number of real‐world applications that light‐powered microrobots should be particularly suited for are mentioned, together with the advances needed for them to achieve such purposes. An interdisciplinary approach combining materials science, microfabrication, photonics, and data science should be conducive to the next generation of microrobots and will ultimately foster the translation of microrobotic applications into the real world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:39:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a648574ab3c2490fbd3281b0d55170d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2640-4567 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T12:39:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Intelligent Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-a648574ab3c2490fbd3281b0d55170d92022-12-21T23:45:40ZengWileyAdvanced Intelligent Systems2640-45672021-04-0134n/an/a10.1002/aisy.202000256Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive MicroswimmersAda‐Ioana Bunea0Daniele Martella1Sara Nocentini2Camilla Parmeggiani3Rafael Taboryski4Diederik S. Wiersma5National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization (DTU Nanolab) Technical University of Denmark Ørsted Plads 347 Lyngby 2800 Kgs. DenmarkEuropean Laboratory for Non‐Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) University of Florence via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino 50019 ItalyEuropean Laboratory for Non‐Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) University of Florence via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino 50019 ItalyEuropean Laboratory for Non‐Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) University of Florence via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino 50019 ItalyNational Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization (DTU Nanolab) Technical University of Denmark Ørsted Plads 347 Lyngby 2800 Kgs. DenmarkEuropean Laboratory for Non‐Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) University of Florence via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino 50019 ItalyWorldwide research in microrobotics has exploded in the past two decades, leading to the development of microrobots propelled in various manners. Despite significant advances in the field and successful demonstration of a wide range of applications, microrobots have yet to become the preferred choice outside a laboratory environment. After introducing available microrobotic propulsion and control mechanisms, microrobots that are manufactured and powered by light are focused herein. Referring to pioneering works and recent interesting examples, light is presented not only as a fabrication tool, by means of two‐photon polymerization direct laser writing, but also as an actuator for microrobots in both hard and soft stimuli–responsive polymers. In this scenario, a number of challenges that yet prevent polymeric light‐powered microrobots from reaching their full potential are identified, whereas potential solutions to overcome said challenges are suggested. As an outlook, a number of real‐world applications that light‐powered microrobots should be particularly suited for are mentioned, together with the advances needed for them to achieve such purposes. An interdisciplinary approach combining materials science, microfabrication, photonics, and data science should be conducive to the next generation of microrobots and will ultimately foster the translation of microrobotic applications into the real world.https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.2020002563D printingmicrorobotsmicroswimmerssmart materialstwo‐photon polymerization |
| spellingShingle | Ada‐Ioana Bunea Daniele Martella Sara Nocentini Camilla Parmeggiani Rafael Taboryski Diederik S. Wiersma Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers Advanced Intelligent Systems 3D printing microrobots microswimmers smart materials two‐photon polymerization |
| title | Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers |
| title_full | Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers |
| title_fullStr | Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers |
| title_short | Light‐Powered Microrobots: Challenges and Opportunities for Hard and Soft Responsive Microswimmers |
| title_sort | light powered microrobots challenges and opportunities for hard and soft responsive microswimmers |
| topic | 3D printing microrobots microswimmers smart materials two‐photon polymerization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202000256 |
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