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Magnetic Miniature Soft Robot with Mechanically Intelligent Multimodal Locomotion

Project description

Magnetically intelligent robots for internal medicine

Miniature robots offer transformative potential for medicine, reaching confined spaces for targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery. While magnetic actuation allows for safe, non-invasive control, navigating the complex and unstructured environments of the human body remains a significant hurdle. Current robots often require external sensors to detect fluid flow or tissue softness, increasing system complexity. Supported by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MIMMSR project is developing a ‘mechanically intelligent’ miniature soft robot that can autonomously adapt its gait to environmental changes under a single actuation input. This innovation reduces the need for external computation and paves the way for more reliable, autonomous robotic therapies in demanding biomedical applications.

Objective

Miniature robots are untethered devices capable of reaching confined spaces inaccessible to conventional robots, offering transformative potential for biomedical applications such as minimally invasive surgery, targeted drug delivery, and localised therapies. Magnetic actuation is particularly well-suited for in vivo use due to its safe tissue penetration, non-invasive control, and high dexterity. However, navigating complex, unstructured biological environments remains challenging, as current multimodal locomotion strategies rely on external sensing, which cannot capture essential non-geometric cues like fluid flow or surface softness. This project aims to develop a mechanically intelligent magnetic miniature soft robot capable of autonomously switching gaits under a single actuation input. By embedding intelligence into its magnetisation profile, geometry, and surface properties, the robot will respond adaptively to environmental changes without external sensors or computation. This approach promises enhanced autonomy, reduced system complexity, and improved reliability, advancing the capabilities of miniature robotics for demanding biomedical applications

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 276 187,92
Address
SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom

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Region
London Inner London — West Westminster
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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