In contrast to traditional large-scale robots, which require complicated mechanical joints and material rigidity, microrobots made of soft materials have exhibited amazing features and great potential for extensive applications, such as minimally invasive surgery. However, microrobots are faced with energy supply and control issues due to the miniaturization. Magnetic field actuation emerges as an appropriate approach to tackle with these issues. This review summarizes the latest progress of biomimetic soft microrobots actuated by magnetic field. Starting with an overview of the soft material and magnetic material adopted in the magnetic field actuated soft microrobots, the various fabrication methods and design structures of soft microrobots are summarized. Subsequently, practical and potential applications, such as targeted therapy, surgical operation, and the transportation of microscopic objects, in the fields of biomedicine and environmental remediation are presented. In the end, some current challenges, and the future development trends of magnetic soft microrobots are briefly discussed. This review is expected to offer a helpful guidance for the new researchers of biomimetic soft microrobots actuated by magnetic field.
Keywords: Bioinspired; Magnetic field; Soft microrobot.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.