Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21188-2″ width=”800″ height=”444″/> Microfinger-insect interaction. (a) Schematic drawing of microfinger-insect interaction (pill bug). Shade3D Basic Version 17.0. 0 (https://shade3d.jp/en/) was used to create the images.(b) Photo of a developed micro hand with five micro fingers. This study focuses on a single micro finger, while the micro hand in the photo (b ) suggests the potential of human hand-insect interactions through the haptic teleoperation robotic system. Source: Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21188-2
Humans have always been fascinated by other scales, from giant objects like stars, planets, and galaxies to the world of tiny things: insects, bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic objects. While the microscope allows us to see and observe the microscopic world, it is still difficult to interact with directly.
However, human-robot interaction technology could change that. Microrobots, for example, can interact with the environment on a much smaller scale than we can. Microsensors have been used to measure forces exerted by insects during activities such as flying or walking. Most studies so far have only focused on measuring insect behavior and not on a direct interaction between insects and microsensors.
With this in mind, researchers at Ritsumeikan University in Japan have now developed a soft micro-robot finger that can enable more direct interaction with the micro-world. The study, led by Professor Satoshi Konishi, was published in Scientific Reports.
“A tactile microfinger is achieved through the use of a flexible liquid metal strain sensor. A soft pneumatic balloon actuator acts as an artificial muscle, allowing for control and finger-like movement of the sensor. With a robotic glove, a human user can directly control the microfingers. This type of system enables safe interaction with insects and other microscopic objects,” explains Prof. Konishi.
Using their newly developed micro-robot setup, the research team studied the reaction force of a pill bug as a representative sample of an insect. The pill beetle was fixed with a suction tool and the micro finger was used to apply a force and measure the reaction force of the beetle’s legs.
The reaction force measured on the pill beetle’s legs was approximately 10 mN (millinewtons), which was consistent with previously estimated values. Although it is a representative study and a proof-of-concept, this result is promising for the realization of direct human interactions with the microworld. Moreover, it can even find application in Augmented Reality (AR) technology. With robotized gloves and microsensory tools such as the microfinger, many AR technologies for human-environment interaction can be realized on a microscale.
“Using our strain-sensitive microfinger, we were able to directly measure the pushing motion and force of a pill beetle’s legs and torso – something previously impossible. We anticipate that our findings will lead to further technological developments on microfinger-insect interactions, leading to human-environment interactions on a much smaller scale,” notes Prof Konishi.
More information:
Satoshi Konishi et al., Active tactile sensing of small insect force by a soft microfinger towards microfinger-insect interactions, Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21188-2
Provided by Ritsumeikan University
Citation: A soft robotic microfinger enabling interaction with insects through tactile sensing (2022 November 10) Retrieved November 10, 2022 from https://techxplore.com/news/2022-11-soft-robotic-microfinger -enables-interaction.html
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