Living Materials Herald a New Era in Soft Robotics

Living beings have an unsurpassed range of ways to manipulate objects and interact with them. They can make autonomous decisions and can heal themselves. So far, a conventional robot cannot mimic this complexity even remotely. Classical robots are often used to help with lifting and gripping and thus to alleviate the effects of menial tasks. Sensors can render robots responsive, and artificial intelligence aims at enabling autonomous responses. Inanimate soft robots are a step in this direction, but it will only be in combination with living systems that full complexity will be achievable. The field of biohybrid soft robotics provides entirely new concepts to address current challenges, for example the ability to self‐heal, enable a soft touch, or to show situational versatility. Therefore, “living materials” are at the heart of this review. Similarly to biological taxonomy, there is a recent effort for taxonomy of biohybrid soft robotics. Here, an expansion is proposed to take into account not only function and origin of biohybrid soft robotic components, but also the materials. This materials taxonomy key demonstrates visually that materials science will drive the development of the field of soft biohybrid robotics.     

Mimicking Molecular Chaperones to Regulate Protein Folding

Folding and unfolding are essential ways for a protein to regulate its biological activity. The misfolding of proteins usually reduces or completely compromises their biological functions, which eventually causes a wide range of diseases including neurodegeneration diseases, type II diabetes, and cancers. Therefore, materials that can regulate protein folding and maintain proteostasis are of significant biological and medical importance. In living organisms, molecular chaperones are a family of proteins that maintain proteostasis by interacting with, stabilizing, and repairing various non-native proteins. In the past few decades, efforts have been made to create artificial systems to mimic the structure and biological functions of nature chaperonins. Herein, recent progress in the design and construction of materials that mimic different kinds of natural molecular chaperones is summarized. The fabrication methods, construction rules, and working mechanisms of these artificial chaperone systems are described. The application of these materials in enhancing the thermal stability of proteins, assisting de novo folding of proteins, and preventing formation of toxic protein aggregates is also highlighted and explored. Finally, the challenges and potential in the field of chaperone-mimetic materials are discussed.     

Explaining a complex living system: dynamics, multi-scaling and emergence

Complex living systems are difficult to understand. They obey the laws of physics and chemistry, but these basic laws do not explain their behaviour; each component part of a complex system participates in many different interactions and these interactions generate unforeseeable, emergent properties. For example, microscopic interactions between non-living molecules, at the macroscopic level, produce a living cell. Here we discuss how to explain such complexity in the format of a dynamic model that is mathematically precise, yet understandable. Precise, computer-aided modelling will make it easier to formulate novel experiments and attain understanding and control of key biological processes.     

工业机器人校准技术与补偿方法发展现状及趋势

工业机器人因具有自动化程度高、定位精度好等优势,已成为我国工业智能化的攻关方向之一,并将逐步替代人工,在智能制造领域发挥不可替代的作用.在使用过程中,造成工业机器人准确度下降的因素众多,将直接影响其在叶片研磨、高精度钻铆等高精尖领域中的应用.文章在总结工业机器人通用校准模型的基础上,分析了工业机器人校准技术与误差补偿方...     

基于功能冗余的骨科机器人安全策略

从手术方案角度分析了骨科机器人系统对手术安全的影响,提出了基于功能冗余的骨科机器人安全策略.结合双平面骨科机器人系统,具体分析了机器人系统在胫骨骨折髓内钉锁定手术中的安全隐患,对影响手术安全的牵引、定位等功能设置了多项冗余的安全保护措施,并对基于功能冗余的骨科机器人安全策略在手术方案、注册标准、临床手术环境、机器人硬件平台、机器人软件系统、安全体系设计等方面的安全措施和方法进行了详细阐述,为骨科机器人系统在原型设计、临床应用等阶段的安全分析提供了一种参考方法和策略.     

Rise of cyborg microrobot: different story for different configuration

By integrating organic parts achieved through evolution and inorganic parts developed by human civilisation, the cyborg microrobot is rising by taking advantage of the high flexibility, outstanding energy efficiency, extremely exquisite structure in the natural components and the fine upgradability, nice controllability in the artefact parts. Compared to the purely synthetic microrobots, the cyborg microrobots, due to the exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, have already been utilised in in situ diagnosis, precise therapy and other biomedical applications. In this review, through a thorough summary of recent advances of cyborg microrobots, the authors categorise the cyborg microrobots into four major classes according to the configuration between biomaterials and artefact materials, i.e. microrobots integrated inside living cell, microrobots modified with biological debris, microrobots integrated with single cell and microrobots incorporated with multiple cells. Cyborg microrobots with the four types of configurations are introduced and summarised with the combination approaches, actuation mechanisms, applications and challenges one by one. Moreover, they conduct a comparison among the four different cyborg microrobots to guide the actuation force promotion, locomotion control refinement and future applications. Finally, conclusions and future outlook of the development and potential applications of the cyborg microrobots are discussed.Inspec keywords: medical robotics, cellular biophysics, mobile robots, molecular biophysics, polymers, microrobotsOther keywords: locomotion control refinement, actuation force promotion, combination approaches, biological debris, living cell, artefact materials, biomaterials, biomedical applications, biodegradability, exceptional biocompatibility, natural components, energy efficiency, human civilisation, purely synthetic microrobots, cyborg microrobot     

爬壁机器人发展现状与关键技术研究综述

目的 随着爬壁机器人技术的发展,为解决其产品应用化问题,对爬壁机器人的研究进展进行梳理、分析和归纳,讨论未来的发展方向,为设计应用于高危环境和特殊场景的爬壁机器人提供思路和参考。方法 将爬壁机器人按移动方式分为履带式、轮式、足式及混合式,通过文献研究法对不同移动方式的爬壁机器人进行综述;将真空吸附、磁吸附、推力吸附等不同吸附方式的爬壁机器人进行对比,介绍了爬壁机器人自适应技术的研究现状及存在问题;总结并分析了爬壁机器人在工业、军事等领域的发展趋势。结论 总结了不同移动方式的爬壁机器人的国内外研究现状,分析了爬壁机器人不同吸附方式的优缺点,归纳预测了爬壁机器人的发展方向。     

Semi-GSGCN: Social Robot Detection Research with Graph Neural Network

Malicious social robots are the disseminators of malicious information on social networks, which seriously affect information security and network environments. Efficient and reliable classification of social robots is crucial for detecting information manipulation in social networks. Supervised classification based on manual feature extraction has been widely used in social robot detection. However, these methods not only involve the privacy of users but also ignore hidden feature information, especially the graph feature, and the label utilization rate of semi-supervised algorithms is low. Aiming at the problems of shallow feature extraction and low label utilization rate in existing social network robot detection methods, in this paper a robot detection scheme based on weighted network topology is proposed, which introduces an improved network representation learning algorithm to extract the local structure features of the network, and combined with the graph convolution network (GCN) algorithm based on the graph filter, to obtain the global structure features of the network. An end-to-end semi-supervised combination model (Semi-GSGCN) is established to detect malicious social robots. Experiments on a social network dataset (cresci-rtbust-2019) show that the proposed method has high versatility and effectiveness in detecting social robots. In addition, this method has a stronger insight into robots in social networks than other methods.     

Biomimetic and Bioinspired Synthesis of Nanomaterials/Nanostructures

In recent years, due to its unparalleled advantages, the biomimetic and bioinspired synthesis of nanomaterials/nanostructures has drawn increasing interest and attention. Generally, biomimetic synthesis can be conducted either by mimicking the functions of natural materials/structures or by mimicking the biological processes that organisms employ to produce substances or materials. Biomimetic synthesis is therefore divided here into “functional biomimetic synthesis” and “process biomimetic synthesis”. Process biomimetic synthesis is the focus of this review. First, the above two terms are defined and their relationship is discussed. Next different levels of biological processes that can be used for process biomimetic synthesis are compiled. Then the current progress of process biomimetic synthesis is systematically summarized and reviewed from the following five perspectives: i) elementary biomimetic system via biomass templates, ii) high‐level biomimetic system via soft/hard‐combined films, iii) intelligent biomimetic systems via liquid membranes, iv) living‐organism biomimetic systems, and v) macromolecular bioinspired systems. Moreover, for these five biomimetic systems, the synthesis procedures, basic principles, and relationships are discussed, and the challenges that are encountered and directions for further development are considered.     

Mechanical assessment of time optimal robot motion

The use of time optimal path planning can speed up robots on assembly lines and allow them to run faster, increasing their productivity. This paper seeks to develop a more complete understanding of the nature of time-optimal point-to-point trajectories for polar coordinate robots and intends to show how effective direct numerical methods are in computing optimal control solutions, including the resolution of complicated motor switching structures. In time optimal robot point-to-point motion there is generically one robot axis that has the hardest time reaching its endpoint. And then, to whatever extent other axes have extra freedom, it must be used to help the axis with the hardest task, whenever possible. Such assistance makes use of different mechanical interaction forces and effects. In this paper we examine one basis type of robot, the polar coordinate robot, and analyze all types of forces during optimal motions, in order to develop an understanding of optimal maneuvers.Formerly Researcher at the Institute for Scientific Computing, University of Heidelberg Germany     

老龄服务机器人包容性设计及设计伦理研究综述

目的 我国即将全面进入人口老龄化社会,伴随人工智能、大数据等新兴技术的飞速发展,针对老龄人群的智能产品设计研究已成为当务之急.方法 首先,通过对国内外相关学者学术文献的梳理和分析,剖析老龄人群的心理和生理特征,并回顾老龄服务机器人发展现状.其次,对老龄服务机器人的包容性研究进行分析,并对老龄服务机器人包容性设计中的拟人化设计进行探讨.最后,回顾老龄服务机器人的设计伦理,并进一步展望未来老龄服务机器人的发展趋势.结论 对老龄服务机器人包容性设计与设计伦理的发展提出若干趋势建议.对于老龄服务机器人设计,应该深切关注其所涉及的包容性和伦理问题,切实提高老龄人群的信息化生活质量和信息沟通幸福感.     

Bio‐Hybrid Cell‐Based Actuators for Microsystems

As we move towards the miniaturization of devices to perform tasks at the nano and microscale, it has become increasingly important to develop new methods for actuation, sensing, and control. Over the past decade, bio‐hybrid methods have been investigated as a promising new approach to overcome the challenges of scaling down robotic and other functional devices. These methods integrate biological cells with artificial components and therefore, can take advantage of the intrinsic actuation and sensing functionalities of biological cells. Here, the recent advancements in bio‐hybrid actuation are reviewed, and the challenges associated with the design, fabrication, and control of bio‐hybrid microsystems are discussed. As a case study, focus is put on the development of bacteria‐driven microswimmers, which has been investigated as a targeted drug delivery carrier. Finally, a future outlook for the development of these systems is provided. The continued integration of biological and artificial components is envisioned to enable the performance of tasks at a smaller and smaller scale in the future, leading to the parallel and distributed operation of functional systems at the microscale.     

人机服务接触体验的影响因素

目的 人工智能与机器人技术的进步推动着智能机器人进入服务业,加速了服务业的数字化、个性化、智能化发展。随着服务机器人进入人类社会,人与服务机器人的交互(HSRI)研究也在从“以技术为中心”向“以人为中心”过渡。在这样的背景下,对HSRI相关研究进行综述,从人、机、服务接触三个方面梳理HSRI的影响因素。方法 通过收集与整理相关文献,阐述服务机器人的定义与特征,梳理了人的因素、机器人属性、服务接触特征三个方面的影响因素。结果 人机服务接触的三大影响因素为机器人属性(包括机器人的拟人化、性别、种族与文化、可用性、透明度、形体与呈现)、人的因素(包括人的年龄、性别、文化、人格特质、技术就绪指数、对机器人负面态度)、服务接触特征(包括服务场所、机器人参与度、顾客参与度、失误后果严重性、有形与无形、认知分析型与情感社交型)。结论 建议HSRI研究综合考虑人、机、服务接触三个方面影响因素,关注智能服务机器人的发展和应用阶段,更重要的是在社会伦理道德的框架下进行机器人的设计与研发。     

Smart polymers and nanocomposites for 3D and 4D printing

Smart materials, also known as intelligent materials, which are responsive to the external stimuli including heat, moisture, stress, pH, and magnetic fields, have found extensive applications in sensors, actuators, soft robots, medical devices and artificial muscles. Using three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques for fabrication of smart devices allows for complex designs and well-controlled manufacturing processes. 4D printing is attributed to the 3D printing of smart materials that can be significantly transformed over time. Herein the smart materials including hydrogels and polymeric nanocomposites used in 4D printing were reviewed and the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the functionalities were discussed in detail. In this report, 4D printing of smart systems and their applications in sensors, actuators and biomedical devices were reviewed to provide a deeper understanding of the current development and the future outlook.     

Creating biological nanomaterials using synthetic biology

Synthetic biology is a new discipline that combines science and engineering approaches to precisely control biological networks. These signaling networks are especially important in fields such as biomedicine and biochemical engineering. Additionally, biological networks can also be critical to the production of naturally occurring biological nanomaterials, and as a result, synthetic biology holds tremendous potential in creating new materials. This review introduces the field of synthetic biology, discusses how biological systems naturally produce materials, and then presents examples and strategies for incorporating synthetic biology approaches in the development of new materials. In particular, strategies for using synthetic biology to produce both organic and inorganic nanomaterials are discussed. Ultimately, synthetic biology holds the potential to dramatically impact biological materials science with significant potential applications in medical systems.     

ATP-Responsive and ATP-Fueled Self-Assembling Systems and Materials

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a central metabolite that plays an indispensable role in various cellular processes, from energy supply to cell-to-cell signaling. Nature has developed sophisticated strategies to use the energy stored in ATP for many metabolic and non-equilibrium processes, and to sense and bind ATP for biological signaling. The variations in the ATP concentrations from one organelle to another, from extracellular to intracellular environments, and from normal cells to cancer cells are one motivation for designing ATP-triggered and ATP-fueled systems and materials, because they show great potential for applications in biological systems by using ATP as a trigger or chemical fuel. Over the last decade, ATP has been emerging as an attractive co-assembling component for man-made stimuli-responsive as well as for fuel-driven active systems and materials. Herein, current advances and emerging concepts for ATP-triggered and ATP-fueled self-assemblies and materials are discussed, shedding light on applications and highlighting future developments. By bringing together concepts of different domains, that is from supramolecular chemistry to DNA nanoscience, from equilibrium to non-equilibrium self-assembly, and from fundamental sciences to applications, the aim is to cross-fertilize current approaches with the ultimate aim to bring synthetic ATP-dependent systems closer to living systems.     

Semiconductor nanowires: A platform for nanoscience and nanotechnology

Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology critically depend on the development of nanostructures whose properties are controlled during synthesis. We focus on this critical concept using semiconductor nanowires, which provide the capability through design and rational synthesis to realize unprecedented structural and functional complexity in building blocks as a platform material. First, a brief review of the synthesis of complex modulated nanowires in which rational design and synthesis can be used to precisely control composition, structure, and, most recently, structural topology is discussed. Second, the unique functional characteristics emerging from our exquisite control of nanowire materials are illustrated using several selected examples from nanoelectronics and nano-enabled energy. Finally, the remarkable power of nanowire building blocks is further highlighted through their capability to create unprecedented, active electronic interfaces with biological systems. Recent work pushing the limits of both multiplexed extracellular recording at the single-cell level and the first examples of intracellular recording is described, as well as the prospects for truly blurring the distinction between nonliving nanoelectronic and living biological systems.     

生物体系介电性质的复合材料理论模型

生物体系作为一类特殊材料,其电学性质是研究仿生材料设计、电阻抗成像以及电磁场生物效应的发生与防护等问题的基础。目前已有较多复合材料模型被应用于生物体系介电性质问题的研究,但由于生物组织离体后的介电特性会发生较大变化,故已有经典复合材料介电特性模型用于阐释生物体系介电特性还存在一定局限性。从几类典型复合材料理论模型的适用性出发,介绍了生物体系介电特性理论研究进展,总结了理论研究结果与实验测量结果的差异性。分析了复合材料理论模型在生物体系介电性质理论研究中应用的不足并提出了改进的建议,对复合材料理论模型在生物体系电学特性问题研究领域的进一步发展与应用等问题提出了展望。     

防跌倒步态平衡训练机器人发展现状

目的 介绍国内外防跌倒步态平衡训练机器人研究的主要进展,为防跌倒步态平衡训练机器人等医工结合领域的研究提供可借鉴的思路。方法 主要从4个方面总结了下肢辅助康复机器人研究的最新进展,具体包括机器人构型,机构控制策略和算法,步态数据采集方法和步态数据分析方法。结论 在国内外对步态平衡训练机器人的研究中,机器人的市场定位细分是当前学界面临的挑战。各主流解决方案侧重点都不相同,针对用户细分的方法也不一样。由于主要的目标人群老年人群体用户差异性强,因此用户的个性化训练需求较高,未来需要进一步细化步态平衡训练机器人的定位,满足不同情况下不同用户在不同阶段的个性化训练需求,有望提升步态平衡训练机器人的整体水平。     

羟基磷灰水热法可控制备的研究

羟基磷灰石具有生物活性和生物相容性，因此，羟基磷灰石的合成及控制研究是当今生物材料领域研究的重要热点．水热合成法是实现高纯HAP制备的有效方法，然而，单一的合成方法很难实现HAP结构及大小有效控制．综述了近几年来水热合成法与其它方法联合实现HAP结构、大小的有效控制，以及近年来纳米羟基磷灰石制备的最新研究进展，并讨论制备条件对HAP结构及大小的影响及形成机理。