Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots
Mobility, environmental adaptability, and functionality are essential attributes of robots, but these become challenging for small-scale on-water robots, also referred to as S-aquabots. Herein, we propose a programmable Marangoni motor (PM-motor) to propel centimeter-scale S-aquabots with high maneu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | eScience |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141724001344 |
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| author | Yexi Zhou Xiao Guan Dazhe Zhao Kaijun Zhang YongAn Huang Junwen Zhong |
| author_facet | Yexi Zhou Xiao Guan Dazhe Zhao Kaijun Zhang YongAn Huang Junwen Zhong |
| author_sort | Yexi Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mobility, environmental adaptability, and functionality are essential attributes of robots, but these become challenging for small-scale on-water robots, also referred to as S-aquabots. Herein, we propose a programmable Marangoni motor (PM-motor) to propel centimeter-scale S-aquabots with high maneuverability and adaptability. Lightweight, compact, flexible hybrid electronics are used to precisely release ethanol to achieve controllable propulsion, smart sensing, and wireless communication functions. The PM-motor utilizes the surface tension gradient generated by the ethanol, which is released from leaf-inspired veins and improves fuel efficiency by 3.5 times when compared with traditional Marangoni effect-propelled robots. As a result, the device’s endurance is up to ∼226 s for a navigation distance of ∼5 m with just 1.2 mL ethanol. Benefiting from the leaf-like shape and negligible noise production, the S-aquabots can also blend well with their surroundings. Autonomous response capability is demonstrated by guiding an S-aquabot with laser spots to complete a butterfly-shaped trajectory. Equipped with a mini-camera or digital sensors, untethered S-aquabots deployed on an outdoor pool can capture real-time videos or monitor long-term environmental conditions. This work is beneficial for inspiring insightful design strategies to develop S-aquabots with high practical potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3acdaba0500b49a5a3ec256d473c840a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2667-1417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eScience |
| spelling | doaj-art-3acdaba0500b49a5a3ec256d473c840a2025-08-20T01:50:20ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.eScience2667-14172025-05-015310033510.1016/j.esci.2024.100335Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabotsYexi Zhou0Xiao Guan1Dazhe Zhao2Kaijun Zhang3YongAn Huang4Junwen Zhong5Department of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, ChinaDepartment of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, ChinaDepartment of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, ChinaDepartment of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Flexible Electronics Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Corresponding author.Department of Electromechanical Engineering and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, University of Macau, Macau SAR 999078, China; Corresponding author.Mobility, environmental adaptability, and functionality are essential attributes of robots, but these become challenging for small-scale on-water robots, also referred to as S-aquabots. Herein, we propose a programmable Marangoni motor (PM-motor) to propel centimeter-scale S-aquabots with high maneuverability and adaptability. Lightweight, compact, flexible hybrid electronics are used to precisely release ethanol to achieve controllable propulsion, smart sensing, and wireless communication functions. The PM-motor utilizes the surface tension gradient generated by the ethanol, which is released from leaf-inspired veins and improves fuel efficiency by 3.5 times when compared with traditional Marangoni effect-propelled robots. As a result, the device’s endurance is up to ∼226 s for a navigation distance of ∼5 m with just 1.2 mL ethanol. Benefiting from the leaf-like shape and negligible noise production, the S-aquabots can also blend well with their surroundings. Autonomous response capability is demonstrated by guiding an S-aquabot with laser spots to complete a butterfly-shaped trajectory. Equipped with a mini-camera or digital sensors, untethered S-aquabots deployed on an outdoor pool can capture real-time videos or monitor long-term environmental conditions. This work is beneficial for inspiring insightful design strategies to develop S-aquabots with high practical potential.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141724001344Bio-inspired electronicsSoft robotsMarangoni effectFlexible electronicsManeuverability |
| spellingShingle | Yexi Zhou Xiao Guan Dazhe Zhao Kaijun Zhang YongAn Huang Junwen Zhong Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots eScience Bio-inspired electronics Soft robots Marangoni effect Flexible electronics Maneuverability |
| title | Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots |
| title_full | Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots |
| title_fullStr | Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots |
| title_short | Bio-inspired and programmable Marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable S-aquabots |
| title_sort | bio inspired and programmable marangoni motor for highly maneuverable and adaptable s aquabots |
| topic | Bio-inspired electronics Soft robots Marangoni effect Flexible electronics Maneuverability |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667141724001344 |
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