Manipulation of micro-objects using adhesion forces and dynamical effects

Describes a dynamical strategy for releasing micro objects picked-up by means of adhesion forces. While sticking effects are used in order to capture an object by adequately choosing a high surface energy constitutive material for the end-effector, these same effects handicap considerably the release. We propose to take advantage of the inertial effects of both the end-effector and the manipulated object to overbalance adhesion forces and to achieve the release. Simulations show that for this purpose, accelerations as high as 10⁵ m/s² are needed. Successful manipulation of a 40 μm radius glass sphere is experimented.