Is it possible for tiny magnetic objects to gather together and disperse rapidly, allowing them to perform intricate procedures inside the human body in the future? A recent study conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart and ETH Zurich has introduced a wireless technique for stiffening and relaxing small structures using magnetic fields, eliminating the need for wires, pumps, or physical contact.
In the world of music, “jamming” denotes the impromptu coming together of musicians who often engage in improvisation without a specific end goal in mind. In the field of physics, jamming refers to the transition of a substance from a fluid-like to a solid-like state—similar to a traffic jam where cars suddenly come to a halt. This transition can be controlled at will, presenting a versatile method for regulating stiffness in robotic systems.
Traditionally, robotic systems achieve jamming through vacuum setups that extract air from flexible enclosures filled with materials like particles, fibers, or grains. However, these setups necessitate pumps, valves, and tubing, making miniaturization challenging.
This is where the research of Buse Aktaş, the leader of the “Robotic Composites and Compositions (RoCoCo) Group” at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, becomes significant. Collaborating with colleagues from ETH Zurich, Aktaş has devised a technique to jam and unjam magnetic particles using only wireless magnetic fields, without the need for tubes or pumps.
“We have created composite particles by combining magnetic and non-magnetic materials, allowing them to attract and adhere to each other when required,” Aktaş explains. “Once the magnetic field is deactivated, they easily separate.”
