マイクロゲルロボットの合体・分解に向けた接着力制御

抄録

In this study, we propose a reconfigurable microgel robot which can be assembled and disassembled by light irradiation. As the soft microrobot uses a soft actuator, it can realize highly efficient and unique movements that mimics living organisms. However, the previous studies of soft microrobots are composed of a single unit. Therefore, there is problem that it has only a single function. By adding assembly and disassembly functions to soft microrobots, it can realize multiple functions. The module is the smallest unit of assembling and disassembling, and it is required to have “drive” and “assemble/ disassemble” functions. For driving the robot, we use a volume change of thermoresponsive gel (PNIPAAm) driven by a light irradiation. For assembly and disassembly of the robots, we use a molecular recognition technology using β-cyclodextrin and azobenzene. We succeeded in performing the two basic functions of “drive” and “assemble/ disassemble” by using the proposed module of the microrobot.