Xiaolong Liu has been awarded an NSF grant through the EAGER program.
Xiaolong Liu, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University’s Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering has been awarded a $171,015 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) program. The EAGER funding mechanism supports exploratory work in early stages on untested but potentially transformative research ideas or approaches that are considered “high-risk, high-reward.”
The project, EAGER: Development of a Modular Magneto-Dynamic Mechanism for Selective Actuation in Small-Scale Soft Robots, aims to advance magnetic soft robotics by developing a proof-of-concept system that can independently actuate multiple robots using a single external magnetic field.
At the core of the research is a magnetically controlled “combination lock” mechanism, like how a lock will only open with the correct sequence, the soft robots will respond to magnetic commands only if preceded by the proper combination. This selective actuation approach could lead to significant advancements in biomedical devices, surgical tools and manufacturing technologies.
“This EAGER award provides an exciting opportunity to pursue a long-envisioned idea: independently controlling large numbers of small-scale robots with a common magnetic field,” Liu said. “This research will help lay the groundwork for multi-scale soft robots with precise, untethered operation, opening the door to impactful medical applications such as coordinated robotic teams for heart chamber repairs.”
The research focuses on designing, fabricating and evaluating a modular magnetic actuation mechanism for robots ranging from millimeters to centimeters in size. By combining dynamic magnetic fields with innovative structural designs, the team aims to achieve multidirectional tuning within individual units and selective control across large robot arrays.
Machine learning will be used to optimize designs for reliability and independence in actuation. Prototypes created through additive manufacturing and microfabrication will be tested for key performance metrics, including response time, actuation force and durability.
The project also addresses a longstanding challenge in the field achieving independent actuation under a common magnetic stimulus while advancing scientific understanding of magnetic interactions in soft materials. The resulting principles could shape the next generation of scalable, reconfigurable soft robotic systems capable of executing complex, coordinated tasks.
More information about the project can be found on the NSF website