Magnetic Nanoparticle Chains Offer New Technique for Controlling Soft Robots

December 21, 2015 | North Carolina State University

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

"The key here is that the nanoparticles in the chains and their magnetic dipoles are arranged head-to-tail, with the positive end of one magnetic nanoparticle lined up with the negative end of the next, all the way down the line," says Joe Tracy, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at NC State and corresponding author of the paper. "At issue is something called magnetic anisotropy, which is caused by assembling the nanoparticles into chains. When a magnetic field is applied in any direction, the chain re-orients itself to become as parallel as possible to the magnetic field, limited only by the constraints of gravity and the elasticity of the polymer."

The researchers believe this technique may be especially attractive for some biomedical applications, as compared to soft robotics that rely on electricity or light for control. "Electrical control can raise safety issues for some medical applications," says Mishra. "And both electrical and light signals pose challenges in terms of communicating those signals to devices embedded in the body. Magnetic fields, on the other hand, pass through easily - and pose fewer safety challenges."

This technique uses inexpensive and widely available materials, and the process is relatively simple and easy to execute, the researchers say.

Page 2 of 2

Share on:

Stay ahead of the technologies shaping the future of electronics with our latest newsletter, Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest. Get expert insights on advanced packaging, materials, and system-level innovation, delivered straight to your inbox.

Subscribe now to stay informed, competitive, and connected.

Suggested Items

Rules of Thumb: Design007 Magazine, November 2024

11/11/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial Team
Rules of thumb are everywhere, but there may be hundreds of rules of thumb for PCB design. They’re built on design formulas, fabricators’ limitations, and tribal knowledge. And unfortunately, some longtime rules of thumb should be avoided at all costs. How do we separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak?

Connect the Dots: Best Practices for Prototyping

09/21/2023 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the Dots
PCB prototyping is a critical juncture during an electronic device’s journey from concept to reality. Regardless of a project’s complexity, the process of transforming a design into a working board is often enlightening in terms of how a design can be improved before a PCB is ready for full production.

The Drive Toward UHDI and Substrates

09/20/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial Team
Panasonic’s Darren Hitchcock spoke with the I-Connect007 Editorial Team on the complexities of moving toward ultra HDI manufacturing. As we learn in this conversation, the number of shifting constraints relative to traditional PCB fabrication is quite large and can sometimes conflict with each other.

Asia/Pacific AI Spending Surge to Reach a Projected $78 Billion by 2027

09/19/2023 | IDC
Asia/Pacific spending on Artificial Intelligence (AI) ), including software, services, and hardware for AI-centric systems will grow to $78.4 billion in 2027, according to International Data Corporation's latest Worldwide Artificial Intelligence Spending Guide.

Intel to Sell Minority Stake in IMS Nanofabrication Business to TSMC

09/13/2023 | Intel
Intel Corporation announced that it has agreed to sell an approximately 10% stake in the IMS Nanofabrication business to TSMC. TSMC’s investment values IMS at approximately $4.3 billion, consistent with the valuation of the recent stake sale to Bain Capital Special Situations.

News Highlights

More News

Featured Books

Article Highlights

More Articles

Latest Columns

See all of our columnists

Media Kit - Choose Your Primary Marketing Focus: