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Factory-on-a-chip: intelligent microrobots made from microfluidic technology
This Master's thesis/semester project focuses on the microfluidic fabrication of micromachines with multi-environmental responsiveness. The aim is to develop micromachines capable of adapting to various environmental cues. We envision that these micromachines will be used for complex tasks in biomedical and environmental applications.
**Background**
Artificial intelligence allows robotic machines to autonomously adapt to their environments and perform complex tasks. However, micro- and nanomachines cannot accommodate the bulky computational units required for such intelligence. Instead, the intelligence of these small-scale machines, including their ability to sense, control, and adapt, must arise from their physical structures through various responsive mechanisms. Despite significant progress in this area, the integration of diverse types of intelligence into micromachines remains largely unexplored.
This project aims to develop a microfluidic strategy to create intelligent micromachines with multiple responsive capabilities. The outcomes of this project will address fundamental questions in robotics and advance the development of intelligent micromachines for sophisticated biomedical and environmental applications.
The following **experience or skills would be ideal** but not necessary:
- Experience or knowledge in microfluidic devices.
- Prior experience in chemistry lab.
- Know-how in nanomaterials fabrication.
**References**
_M. Hu et al. "Shaping the assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles." Mater. Horiz. 9.6 (2022): 1641-1648._
_B. J. Nelson & S. Pané “Delivering drugs with microrobots.” Science 382.6675 (2023): 1120-1122._
**Background**
Artificial intelligence allows robotic machines to autonomously adapt to their environments and perform complex tasks. However, micro- and nanomachines cannot accommodate the bulky computational units required for such intelligence. Instead, the intelligence of these small-scale machines, including their ability to sense, control, and adapt, must arise from their physical structures through various responsive mechanisms. Despite significant progress in this area, the integration of diverse types of intelligence into micromachines remains largely unexplored.
This project aims to develop a microfluidic strategy to create intelligent micromachines with multiple responsive capabilities. The outcomes of this project will address fundamental questions in robotics and advance the development of intelligent micromachines for sophisticated biomedical and environmental applications.
The following **experience or skills would be ideal** but not necessary:
- Experience or knowledge in microfluidic devices.
- Prior experience in chemistry lab.
- Know-how in nanomaterials fabrication.
**References**
_M. Hu et al. "Shaping the assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles." Mater. Horiz. 9.6 (2022): 1641-1648._
_B. J. Nelson & S. Pané “Delivering drugs with microrobots.” Science 382.6675 (2023): 1120-1122._
- Manipulation of droplet-generation microfluidic systems. (~ 1 month)
- Develop microfabrication process to produce micromachines from different responsive polymers. (~ 3 months)
- Investigate and test the fabricated intelligent micromachines under different environmental cues. (~ 2 months)
- Manipulation of droplet-generation microfluidic systems. (~ 1 month)
- Develop microfabrication process to produce micromachines from different responsive polymers. (~ 3 months)
- Investigate and test the fabricated intelligent micromachines under different environmental cues. (~ 2 months)
Project 2_MHu.pdf
