Issues

Search

Home > Issues > Retrieve

A Study on Finding Optimum Parameters of a Diamagnetically Driven Untethered Microrobot

Journal of Magnetics, Volume 22, Number 4, 31 Dec 2017, Pages 539-549
Anil Demircali (Yildiz Technical University, Department of Mechatronics Engineering), Kadir Erkan (Yildiz Technical University, Department of Mechatronics Engineering), Huseyin Uvet * (Yildiz Technical University, Department of Mechatronics Engineering)
Abstract
In this study, we present a theoretical and numeric analysis of an untethered microrobot manipulation technique that can be used in a liquid environment. A microrobot, which is levitated on a pyrolytic graphite surface,
allows us to achieve high precision positioning (at nano level) and control with lower external magnetic force requirements due to stabilizing manner of its locomotion. Stabilizing microrobot is controlled via a single
“lifter magnet” as a driving force that is placed on an automatic micro-stage in order to provide stable-motion about x, y and z axes. The presented microrobot is designed for single cell manipulation and transportation
operations in liquid medium. It can be used in different experimental setups such as lab-on-a-chips, petri dishes. Here, a new approach to determine an optimal experimental setup of the diamagnetically levitated
microrobot, which provides the most effective and possible microrobot control, is explained with FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis and required background information. For such untethered microrobot control
experiments in a FEM program, determination of the size of materials used, selection criteria, required magnetic force effects, and optimum pyrolytic graphite sizes are discussed in detail. To do that, our proposed analysis method suggests how to construct such an FEM model parametrically in COMSOL®. Before starting the experimental work, the effects of the material and dimensions of each element forming the system on the
microrobot are discussed in detail. Moreover, the manipulation technique which revealed the theoretical infrastructure is compared with the numerical calculations and the results are shown to be compatible with each
other.
 
Keywords: untethered microrobot; diamagnetic levitation; precise manipulation; FEM analysis
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4283/JMAG.2017.22.4.539
Full Text : PDF