arXiv:2412.05712cs.RO2024-12被引 4

受孢子藻类启发,设计双鞭毛机器人实现低雷诺数下高速游动

Flagellar Swimming at Low Reynolds Numbers: Zoospore-Inspired Robotic Swimmers with Dual Flagella for High-Speed Locomotion

  • 模仿孢子藻双鞭毛结构,采用振荡推进实现高效游动
  • 鞭毛越长、振荡频率越高,推进速度越快,最长可达3.2体长/秒
  • 前鞭毛的拉力作用主导推进效率,适合微纳机器人研究者参考

在低雷诺数环境下,惯性力可忽略,粘滞力占主导,传统推进方式失效。微生物演化出纤毛和鞭毛等特殊结构以高效移动。其中,植物疫霉孢子(Phytophthora zoospores)展现出高效能的运动机制,可在黏性环境中快速传播且能耗极低。本研究设计、制备并测试了一种仿孢子机器人,其具有双柔性鞭毛与振荡推进机制,模拟真实孢子的游泳行为。实验与理论模型表明,鞭毛长度与振荡频率显著影响推进速度:鞭毛越长、频率越高,性能越优。尤其发现前鞭毛产生牵引力,对推进效率起主导作用,而后鞭毛推力作用较弱。这一关键发现难以直接观测于生物孢子,因后者一旦前鞭毛脱落,后鞭毛即被释放。该工作推动了微尺度机器人系统发展,潜在应用于医疗、环境与工业领域,并为研究生物孢子运动机制提供有效平台。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Traditional locomotion strategies become ineffective at low Reynolds numbers, where viscous forces predominate over inertial forces. To adapt, microorganisms have evolved specialized structures like cilia and flagella for efficient maneuvering in viscous environments. Among these organisms, Phytophthora zoospores demonstrate unique locomotion mechanisms that allow them to rapidly spread and attack new hosts while expending minimal energy. In this study, we present the design, fabrication, and testing of a zoospore-inspired robot, which leverages dual flexible flagella and oscillatory propulsion mechanisms to emulate the natural swimming behavior of zoospores. Our experiments and theoretical model reveal that both flagellar length and oscillation frequency strongly influence the robot's propulsion speed, with longer flagella and higher frequencies yielding enhanced performance. Additionally, the anterior flagellum, which generates a pulling force on the body, plays a dominant role in enhancing propulsion efficiency compared to the posterior flagellum's pushing force. This is a significant experimental finding, as it would be challenging to observe directly in biological zoospores, which spontaneously release the posterior flagellum when the anterior flagellum detaches. This work contributes to the development of advanced microscale robotic systems with potential applications in medical, environmental, and industrial fields. It also provides a valuable platform for studying biological zoospores and their unique locomotion strategies.

微纳机器人生物启发低雷诺数鞭毛驱动

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