Synthesis of a micro motor actuated by remote resonant magnetic fields

It is believed that micro actuators and robots might introduce revolutionary changes in many advanced applications, such as nano manipulation and minimally invasive medicine. Many prototypes were recently developed, which could be powered either by micro organism, by onboard mechatronic systems or by remote magnetic fields. This paper presents two evolving designs, aiming at producing a micro motor which can be selectively remotely actuated by weak resonant magnetic fields. The core design concept is to design a spring-mass structure to transform the vibrations of a soft magnet into rotary outputs. The generated rotation can then be used to form revolute joints or to drive propellers. The proposed designs convert magnetic energy directly into mechanical work, avoiding complex components from tradition motor units such as windings, batteries, etc.