Electromechanical Energy-Based 3D-Controllable Motion of Small Matter toward Tiny Machines

Abstract

Is it possible to remotely operate a tiny piece of matter or a less-than-one-centimeter machine to perform a medical task in life? Especially given that in the present technology, neither the mechanism nor battery is small enough to be set up inside the structure of such a tiny machine. Yet, if the powered matter is magnetically responsive, then a magnetic field, as one of the potential power sources, can be applied to power it promisingly. Herein, the concept of electromechanical energy conversion is utilized through a specific configuration consisting of eight solenoids arranged together as a nest. The device converts electrical energy into an electromagnetic field, and finally, into mechanical energy, respectively, resulting in magnetic manipulation. Since electric energy is supplied to the configuration, eight solenoids generate the controllable magnetic field in both direction and magnitude by means of the superposition technique. The device can magnetically navigate tiny motorless matter to release mechanical energy through the 3D-controllable motion to arbitrary positions effectively and physical interactions with the surrounding environment as if operating a tiny machine. The experimental results report the feasibility of the device to control the 6-DOF locomotion of small matter precisely. The contribution of the concept based on this work leads to a promising protocol to remotely power small machines, micro-engines, micro-propellers, micro-turbines, etc.