Innovations in microrobotics and their implications in a digital world

This chapter presents the work of the Biological, Actuation, Sensing, and Transport Laboratory (BAST Lab) located at Southern Methodist University (SMU), a highly specialized and ambitious research group that focuses on developing a spectrum of microrobots for medical applications and the development of programmable matter. Microrobotics relies heavily on digital innovations for success. The laboratory uses a diverse set of control mechanisms to actuate and direct microrobots of all different forms. These robots include geometric magnetic particle aggregates, artificial cells, and bacterial hybrids; all of which possess powerful features that can be adapted for different environments within the human body and can be used to fabricate novel structures and sensors. This chapter delves into the technology employed by BAST Lab and extrapolates the potential innovations to come from the research.