Wireless resonant magnetic microactuator for untethered mobile microrobots

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 2 mT. The wireless resonant magnetic microactuator was incorporated in microrobots, which measure 300×300×70 μm³, that are capable of moving forward, backward, and turning in place while reaching speeds in excess of 12.5 mm/s.