Abstract
In this paper, we describe design and development of proof-of-concept prototype of a micro heat engine for an in-liquid micro robot. There are two main problems to develop a micro robot within 1mm^3. Those are a sticky problem and an energy source problem. To solve those problems, we look at the natural world and found out almost all micro animate beings are living in liquid such as microbes and water fleas. They harvest energy by eating foods and absorbing solar energy, and they move freely in liquid; they have already solved sticky problem and energy source problem. That is our motivation to research and develop micro robot which moves in liquid. In this report, we have proposed new concept of the robot using heat engine composed of gear and pulley and shape memory alloy actuator as its source of motion. We make 1cm3 sized proof-of-concept prototype of the heat engine to check its basic performance. We also discuss about possibility and applications of the in-liquid micro robot.
