Unexpected motion in drug-delivery robots (VIDEO)
Caption
Same swimmer. Same spin. Different fluid—different path.
(Top View) Both swimmers are actuated from a resting position on a flat wall, with an identical rotating magnetic field. They move forward towards their heads. in both fluids. In the Newtonian fluid, the swimmer drifts sideways consistent with its rolling direction. In the shear-thinning fluid (like blood or mucus), it drifts the other way even though it's spinning in the same direction. The wall and the fluid's properties, together, steer the robot.
Credit
Dr. Ebru Demir/Lehigh University
Usage Restrictions
Credited, contextual use only
License
Original content