Reference on achieving contactless manipulation of soft robots, detailing high level concepts and perspectives and technical skills of soft robots Untethered Miniature Soft Robots: Materials, Fabrications, and Applications introduces the emerging field of miniature soft robots and summarizes the recent rapid development in the field to date, describing different types of functional materials to build miniature soft robots, such as silicone elastomer, carbon-based materials, hydrogels, liquid crystal polymer, flexible ferrofluid, and liquid metal, and covering the material properties, fabrication strategies, and functionalities in soft robots together with their underlying mechanisms. The book discusses magnetically, thermally, optically, and chemically actuated soft robots in depth, explores the many specific applications of miniature soft robots in biomedical, environmental, and electrical fields and summarizes the development of miniature soft robots based on intelligent materials, actuation mechanisms, soft matter, fabrication strategies, actuation, and locomotion principles. In closing, the text summarizes the opportunities and challenges faced by miniature soft robots, providing expert insight into the possible futures of this field. Written by four highly qualified academics, Untethered Miniature Soft Robots covers sample topics such as: Soft elastomer-based robots with programmable magnetization profiles and untethered soft robots based on template-aiding Working mechanisms of carbon-based materials, covering light-induced expansion and shrinkage, and humidity-induced deformation Designing microscale building blocks, modular assembly of building blocks based on Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) matrix, and inverse and forward design of modular morphing systems Material designs of magnetic liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) systems, multiple-stimuli responsiveness of magnetic LCE systems, and adaptive locomotion of magnetic LCE-based robots Controllable deformation and motion behaviors, as well as applications of ferrofluids droplet robots (FDRs), including cargo capturing, object sorting, liquid pumping/mixing, and liquid skin. Providing highly detailed and up-to-date coverage of the topic, Untethered Miniature Soft Robots serves as an invaluable and highly comprehensive reference for researchers working in this promising field across a variety of disciplines, including materials scientists, mechanical and electronics engineers, polymer chemists, and biochemists.

Recent Progress in Medical Miniature Robots: From Bench to Bedside serves as a specialized and dedicated reference on miniature robots and their related biomedical applications. This book presents the latest achievements in the research of miniature robotics and introduces a variety of miniature robots on the milli-/micro-/nano-scale, with tethered/untethered and individual/swarm designs, describing the various types and analyzing the underlying principles per class. Recent Progress in Medical Miniature Robots: From Bench to Bedside is suitable for clinicians, academicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, students, engineers, and scientists working in the field of medical miniature robots and related biomedical applications. - Provides authoritative coverage of the fundamental research and medical applications of miniature robotics, from mm-scale to nm-scale and with tethered/untethered and individual/swarm designs - Focuses on the state-of-the-art research and up-to-date results of medical miniature robots - Describes the key medical applications of miniature robots, and provides insights into the ongoing research, and speculates on the future directions of medical miniature robots

Untethered Small-Scale Robots for Biomedical Applications introduces the principle, design, fabrication and application of small-scale robots for biomedical applications. Robots in the scale of nanometer, micrometer and millimeter are described in detail, along with their impact on the field of biomedical engineering. The selected examples of robots across different scales are of the most essential and innovative designs in a small-scale robot with various application settings for biomechanics characterization, drug delivery and surgical procedure. The representative robots represented operate robustly and safely in complex physiological environments where they have a transformative impact in bioengineering and healthcare. This book will lead the audience to the field of small-scale robots through the description of the physics in the small scale, design and fabrication of small-scale robots, and how these robots may impact the future of biomedical studies and minimally-invasive surgical procedures. - Provides a comprehensive review of the current advances in biomedical untethered mobile milli/microrobots - Describes the most representative small-scale robots in detail, including design, fabrication, control and function aspects - Presents the imminent potential impacts of biomedical microrobots - Discusses the existing challenges and emerging concepts associated with designing such a miniaturized robot for operation inside a biological environment for biomedical applications

Presents recent advances such as industry 4.0, 4D printing, 3D material mechanical characterization, and printing of advanced materials. Highlights the interdisciplinary aspects of 3D printing particularly in biomedical, and aerospace engineering. Discusses mechanical and physical properties of 3D printed parts, material aspects, and process parameters. Showcases topics such as rapid prototyping, medical equipment design, and biomimetics related to the role of 3D printing in new product development. Covers applications of 3D printing in diverse areas including automotive, aerospace engineering, medical, and marine industry.

Twists, Tilings, and Tessellation describes the underlying principles and mathematics of the broad and exciting field of abstract and mathematical origami, most notably the field of origami tessellations. It contains folding instructions, underlying principles, mathematical concepts, and many beautiful photos of the latest work in this fast-expanding field.

The first textbook on micron-scale mobile robotics, introducing the fundamentals of design, analysis, fabrication, and control, and drawing on case studies of existing approaches. Progress in micro- and nano-scale science and technology has created a demand for new microsystems for high-impact applications in healthcare, biotechnology, manufacturing, and mobile sensor networks. The new robotics field of microrobotics has emerged to extend our interactions and explorations to sub-millimeter scales. This is the first textbook on micron-scale mobile robotics, introducing the fundamentals of design, analysis, fabrication, and control, and drawing on case studies of existing approaches. The book covers the scaling laws that can be used to determine the dominant forces and effects at the micron scale; models forces acting on microrobots, including surface forces, friction, and viscous drag; and describes such possible microfabrication techniques as photo-lithography, bulk micromachining, and deep reactive ion etching. It presents on-board and remote sensing methods, noting that remote sensors are currently more feasible; studies possible on-board microactuators; discusses self-propulsion methods that use self-generated local gradients and fields or biological cells in liquid environments; and describes remote microrobot actuation methods for use in limited spaces such as inside the human body. It covers possible on-board powering methods, indispensable in future medical and other applications; locomotion methods for robots on surfaces, in liquids, in air, and on fluid-air interfaces; and the challenges of microrobot localization and control, in particular multi-robot control methods for magnetic microrobots. Finally, the book addresses current and future applications, including noninvasive medical diagnosis and treatment, environmental remediation, and scientific tools.

Discover the latest models and methods for robotic microassembly from around the world This book presents and analyzes new and emerging models and methods developed around the world for robotic microassembly, a new and innovative way to produce better microsystems. By exploring everything from the physics of micromanipulation to microassembly to microhandling, it provides the first complete overview and review of this rapidly growing field. Robotic Microassembly is divided into three parts: Part One: Modeling of the Microworld Part Two: Handling Strategies Part Three: Robotic and Microassembly Together, these three parts feature eight chapters contributed by eight different authors. The authors, internationally recognized experts in the field of robotic microassembly, represent research laboratories in Asia, Europe, and North America. As a result, readers get a remarkable perspective on different approaches to robotic microassembly from around the world. Examples provided throughout the chapters help readers better understand how these different approaches work in practice. References at the end of each chapter lead to the primary literature for further investigation of individual topics. Robotic microassembly offers a new, improved way to manufacture high-performance microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Therefore, any professional or student involved in microrobotics, micromechatronics, self-assembly or MEMS will find plenty of novel ideas and methods in this book that set the stage for new approaches to design and build the next generation of MEMS and microproducts.

Robotic Systems and Autonomous Platforms: Advances in Materials and Manufacturing showcases new materials and manufacturing methodologies for the enhancement of robotic and autonomous systems. Initial chapters explore how autonomous systems can enable new uses for materials, including innovations on different length scales, from nano, to macro and large systems. The means by which autonomous systems can enable new uses for manufacturing are also addressed, highlighting innovations in 3D additive manufacturing, printing of materials, novel synthesis of multifunctional materials, and robotic cooperation. Concluding themes deliver highly novel applications from the international academic, industrial and government sectors. This book will provide readers with a complete review of the cutting-edge advances in materials and manufacturing methodologies that could enhance the capabilities of robotic and autonomous systems. - Presents comprehensive coverage of materials and manufacturing technologies, as well as sections on related technology, such as sensing, communications, autonomy/control and actuation - Explores potential applications demonstrated by a selection of case-studies - Contains contributions from leading experts in the field

Molecular Driving Forces, Second Edition E-book is an introductory statistical thermodynamics text that describes the principles and forces that drive chemical and biological processes. It demonstrates how the complex behaviors of molecules can result from a few simple physical processes, and how simple models provide surprisingly accurate insights into the workings of the molecular world. Widely adopted in its First Edition, Molecular Driving Forces is regarded by teachers and students as an accessible textbook that illuminates underlying principles and concepts. The Second Edition includes two brand new chapters: (1) "Microscopic Dynamics" introduces single molecule experiments; and (2) "Molecular Machines" considers how nanoscale machines and engines work. "The Logic of Thermodynamics" has been expanded to its own chapter and now covers heat, work, processes, pathways, and cycles. New practical applications, examples, and end-of-chapter questions are integrated throughout the revised and updated text, exploring topics in biology, environmental and energy science, and nanotechnology. Written in a clear and reader-friendly style, the book provides an excellent introduction to the subject for novices while remaining a valuable resource for experts.