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Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new type of magnetic actuator that is thinner, more flexible, and more efficient than previous designs—enabling origami-inspired robots to perform complex tasks in confined environments, including inside the human body.
Using a 3D printing method, the team embedded rubber-like elastomers with ferromagnetic particles to produce soft, paper-thin magnetic films. These films function as actuators—components that cause movement—when exposed to external magnetic fields. Unlike rigid magnets traditionally used in soft robotics, these actuators can be applied directly onto origami structures without compromising their ability to fold or unfold.
One prototype focuses on targeted drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. It uses a folding pattern called Miura-Ori, which enables a large surface area to compact into a small shape for easy ingestion. Once inside the body, the magnetic actuators are used to deploy the structure at the target site—such as an ulcer—where it can release medication steadily and noninvasively.
To test the concept, the researchers built a mock stomach and guided the robot to a target site using magnetic fields. The device successfully expanded and stayed in position, releasing its payload over time without interfering with its surroundings—highlighting its potential as a minimally invasive medical tool.
According to TechXplore, the key to the innovation was a method for increasing the density of ferromagnetic particles in the printed material. Normally, high particle concentrations interfere with the curing process. To overcome this, the team added a hot plate beneath the printing surface, allowing them to solidify the material even with high magnetic content. This led to significantly stronger actuation forces.
The team also demonstrated a second robot, capable of crawling over uneven terrain. Using the same Miura-Ori structure, actuators strategically placed along the body allowed it to lift, contract, and push forward in response to magnetic pulses. The system managed to climb over obstacles and adapt to surfaces like sand, offering future potential for mobile robots in constrained or hazardous environments.
These results suggest broad applications, from internal medical devices to deployable systems in space or disaster zones, where size, flexibility, and remote operation are critical.
The research was published in the Advanced Functional Materials Journal.
