Contents
15 February 2017
Vol 2, Issue 3
Vol 2, Issue 3
Focus
- Beyond imaging: Macro- and microscale medical robots actuated by clinical MRI scanners
Magnetic resonance actuation has potential for use in medical therapies. See the related Research Article by Rahmer et al.
Research Articles
- Spatially selective remote magnetic actuation of identical helical micromachines
An individual helical micromachine is moved within a pack by locking the others in place with a strong gradient field.
- A biomimetic robotic platform to study flight specializations of bats
An articulated wing structure with a silicon-based skin enables a robot to mimic bat-like flight abilities.
- Biomimetic temperature-sensing layer for artificial skins
Pectin films mimic the sensing mechanism of viper pit membranes to finely detect temperature changes.
About The Cover
ONLINE COVER Some Batty Ideas Take Flight. Bat Bot (shown) is able to imitate several flight maneuvers of bats, such as bank turns and diving flight. Such agile flight is made possible by highly malleable bones and skin in bat wings. Ramezani et al. identified and implemented the most important bat wing joints by means of a series of mechanical constraints. They then designed feedback control for their flapping wing platform and covered the structure in a flexible silicon membrane. This biomimetic robot may also shed light on the role of bat legs to modulate flight pitch. [CREDIT: ALIREZA RAMEZANI]