Optical driving of a miniature machine composed of temperature-sensitive ferrite and shape memory alloy

摘要

Optically driven small machines have such features as easily miniaturized in fabrication and as controlled by optical energy supplied remotely in wireless. We report on an optically controlled machine which moves like a caterpillar on the basis of optomechatronic principle. This miniaturized machine consists of two parts; a body made of shape memory alloys and springs and feet made of a magnet, a temperature-sensitive ferrite. The feet can hold the steel-made floor using magnetic force balance caused by projected beam, and the body repeats expansion and contraction using deformation of shape memory alloys caused by switching of projected beam. A prototype is fabricated in trial with a size of 35 mm x 12 mm. As an experimental result, it proved that they could move at the speed of 8.7 mm per cycle on a ceiling as well as a horizontal steel floor and it could ascend a slope as steep as 50 degree.