MagMites - Microrobots for wireless microhandling in dry and wet environments

Central to the challenge of building sub-mm robots, or microrobots, is the development of effective power storage and locomotion mechanisms. In 2007 we introduced the Wireless Resonant Magnetic Micro-actuator (WRMMA) and its application in a successful microrobotic platform, the MagMite. The term MagMite is derived from Magnetic Mite--a tribute to the underlying magnetic propulsion principle and the microscale dimensions of the robot. The device harvests magnetic energy from the environment and effectively transforms it into impact-driven mechanical force while being fully controllable. It can be powered and controlled with oscillating fields in the kHz range and strengths as low as 2 mT, which is only roughly 50 times the average earth magnetic field. These microrobotic agents with dimensions less than 300

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Dominic R. Frutiger, Bradley Kratochvil, Bradley J. Nelson
• Keywords: ICRA 2010, Magnetic, Resonant Magnetic Micro-actuator, Robotics, Successful Microrobotic Platform