The use of piezoelectric motors in miniature robots

Author(s):  
Liudmila P. Kozlova ◽  
Alexsandr M. Belov ◽  
Olga A. Kozlova
2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 037001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Avirovik ◽  
Bryan Butenhoff ◽  
Shashank Priya
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Paul E. Rybski ◽  
Maria Gini ◽  
Dean F. Hougen ◽  
Sascha A. Stoeter ◽  
Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
S Martel

In the field of medical nanorobotics, nanometre-scale components and phenomena are exploited within the context of robotics to provide new medical diagnostic and interventional procedures, or at least to enhance the existing ones. The best route for such miniature robots to access various regions inside the human body is certainly the vascular network. Such a network is made of nearly 100 000 km of blood vessels varying in diameters from a few millimetres in the arteries down to ∼ 4 μm in the capillaries with respective important variations in blood flow velocities. When injected in the blood circulatory network using existing modern techniques such as catheterization, such robots must travel from larger-diameter vessels before reaching much tinier capillaries. As such, the use of a single type of microscale robots capable of travelling in various environments and conditions related to such different blood vessels while being trackable by an external system seems, at the present time, inconceivable. Therefore, as explained in this article, an approach based on the use of several types of microscale robots with complementary methods of propulsion and steering capable of operating in a collective manner is more likely to achieve better results. This is especially true for interventions such as direct tumour targeting where the tiniest blood vessels such as the ones found in the angiogenesis network must be travelled.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xifu Chen ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Weiqing Huang ◽  
Yin Wang

A kind of nonresonance shaking beam motors is proposed with the advantages of simple structure, easy processing, and low cost due to its wide application prospects in precision positioning technology and precision instruments. The normal vibration model between the stator and slider is divided into contact and noncontact types to investigate the nonresonance friction drive principle for this motor. The microscopic kinematics model for stator protruding section and the interface friction model for motor systems during both operating stages are established. Accordingly, the trajectory of the stator protruding section consists of two different elliptical motions, which differ from those of resonance-type motors. The output characteristic of the nonresonance shaking beam motor is proposed under steady working conditions with reference to the research method of standing-wave-type ultrasonic motors. Numerical analysis is used to simulate the normal vibration and mechanical output characteristics of the motor. Experimental and theoretical data fitting validates the numerical analysis results and allows the future optimization of nonresonance-type motors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 149-168
Author(s):  
Włodzimierz Przyborowski

The paper presents the basics of the theory of electropiezoelasticity and adaptation of this theory to description of the simplest electromechanical converters − piezoelectric type electric motors. Because piezoelectricity and elasticity are coupled by complex piezoelasticity constitutive compounds, the formulation of a general mathematical model for these motors is not possible. Therefore, equations for structurally simple piezoelectric motors with linear and rotational motion have been formulated in the paper. Motors with linear movement are characterized by a flat or tube form. Rotary motors, on the other hand, have a cylindrical or disc-shaped form. The electric field, in the adopted forms of piezoelectric motors generating a piezoelectric effect, is a single-field perpendicular to the direction of motion. The determined equations could be simplified by reduction of some constitutive parameters, but it requires a detailed analysis of material compounds and consideration in the interactions of forces and torques in these motors, also strong piezoelectric stresses, which determine a specific kinetics. Keywords: piezoelectric motors with translational and rotary motion, equations of electric-piezoelasticity.


Author(s):  
Neng Xia ◽  
Dongdong Jin ◽  
Veronica Iacovacci ◽  
Li Zhang

Abstract Miniature robots and actuators with micrometer or millimeter scale size can be driven by diverse power sources, e.g., chemical fuels, light, magnetic, and acoustic fields. These machines have the potential to access complex narrow spaces, execute medical tasks, perform environmental monitoring, and manipulate micro-objects. Recent advancements in 3D printing techniques have demonstrated great benefits in manufacturing small-scale structures such as customized design with programmable physical properties. Combining 3D printing methods, functional polymers, and active control strategies enables these miniature machines with diverse functionalities to broaden their potentials in medical applications. Herein, this review provides an overview of 3D printing techniques applicable for the fabrication of small-scale machines and printable functional materials, including shape-morphing materials, biomaterials, composite polymers, and self-healing polymers. Functions and applications of tiny robots and actuators fabricated by 3D printing and future perspectives toward small-scale intelligent machines are discussed.


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