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Emergent microrobotic oscillators via asymmetry-induced order

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Fan Yang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Thomas A. Berrueta

    (Northwestern University)

  • Allan M. Brooks

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Albert Tianxiang Liu

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of Michigan)

  • Ge Zhang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • David Gonzalez-Medrano

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Sungyun Yang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Volodymyr B. Koman

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Pavel Chvykov

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Lexy N. LeMar

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Marc Z. Miskin

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Todd D. Murphey

    (Northwestern University)

  • Michael S. Strano

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Spontaneous oscillations on the order of several hertz are the drivers of many crucial processes in nature. From bacterial swimming to mammal gaits, converting static energy inputs into slowly oscillating power is key to the autonomy of organisms across scales. However, the fabrication of slow micrometre-scale oscillators remains a major roadblock towards fully-autonomous microrobots. Here, we study a low-frequency oscillator that emerges from a collective of active microparticles at the air-liquid interface of a hydrogen peroxide drop. Their interactions transduce ambient chemical energy into periodic mechanical motion and on-board electrical currents. Surprisingly, these oscillations persist at larger ensemble sizes only when a particle with modified reactivity is added to intentionally break permutation symmetry. We explain such emergent order through the discovery of a thermodynamic mechanism for asymmetry-induced order. The on-board power harvested from the stabilised oscillations enables the use of electronic components, which we demonstrate by cyclically and synchronously driving a microrobotic arm. This work highlights a new strategy for achieving low-frequency oscillations at the microscale, paving the way for future microrobotic autonomy.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Fan Yang & Thomas A. Berrueta & Allan M. Brooks & Albert Tianxiang Liu & Ge Zhang & David Gonzalez-Medrano & Sungyun Yang & Volodymyr B. Koman & Pavel Chvykov & Lexy N. LeMar & Marc Z. Miskin & T, 2022. "Emergent microrobotic oscillators via asymmetry-induced order," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33396-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33396-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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