Chapter 30
Development of Electrostatic Linear
Motor for Insect-Type Microrobot
Genki Osada, Asuya Mizumoto, Satoshi Hirao, Yuichiro Hayakawa,
Daisuke Noguchi, Minami Kaneko, Fumio Uchikoba, and Ken Saito
Abstract The authors aim to develop an insect-type microrobot system which can
operate autonomously like as an insect by mounting a sensor, a power supply, a
motor, and a controller in a millimeter-sized body. Realization of robots the same as
the performance of organisms is difficult with current robotics. In particular, small
size actuator with low power consumption, which can actuate by small-sized energy
source are difficult to realize. In this paper, the authors will discuss an electrostatic
linear motor to move the legs of the microrobot with low energy consumption using
a small power source.
Keywords MEMS · Microrobot · Electrostatic motor
30.1 Introduction
In recent years, a microrobot of millimeter-scale has actively developed by using
the micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The microrobots are
expected to be active in various fields that existing robots could not use. In the
medical field, the microrobots expected in the examination of internal organs and
blood vessels by taking the microrobots directly into the patient’s body. Also, the
microrobots are considered to be able to reduce the burden on patients by administering drugs directly to the affected area (Sitti et al. 2015; Li et al. 2018). In the sight
of the disaster, the microrobots are expected to investigate narrow and dangerous
spaces which are difficult for a human to enter (Li et al. 2016; Takeda 2011).
The authors are studying to realize a microrobot that can operate autonomously
like insects. Small insects such as ants have excellent autonomous systems packaged
to a small sized body. In modern robotics, there are difficulties in realizing a small
and autonomously operating the microrobots. Miniaturization of a power supply,
G. Osada · A. Mizumoto · S. Hirao · Y. Hayakawa · D. Noguchi
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
M. Kaneko · F. Uchikoba · K. Saito (B)
College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: kensaito@eme.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_30
425
Development of Electrostatic Linear
Motor for Insect-Type Microrobot
Genki Osada, Asuya Mizumoto, Satoshi Hirao, Yuichiro Hayakawa,
Daisuke Noguchi, Minami Kaneko, Fumio Uchikoba, and Ken Saito
Abstract The authors aim to develop an insect-type microrobot system which can
operate autonomously like as an insect by mounting a sensor, a power supply, a
motor, and a controller in a millimeter-sized body. Realization of robots the same as
the performance of organisms is difficult with current robotics. In particular, small
size actuator with low power consumption, which can actuate by small-sized energy
source are difficult to realize. In this paper, the authors will discuss an electrostatic
linear motor to move the legs of the microrobot with low energy consumption using
a small power source.
Keywords MEMS · Microrobot · Electrostatic motor
30.1 Introduction
In recent years, a microrobot of millimeter-scale has actively developed by using
the micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The microrobots are
expected to be active in various fields that existing robots could not use. In the
medical field, the microrobots expected in the examination of internal organs and
blood vessels by taking the microrobots directly into the patient’s body. Also, the
microrobots are considered to be able to reduce the burden on patients by administering drugs directly to the affected area (Sitti et al. 2015; Li et al. 2018). In the sight
of the disaster, the microrobots are expected to investigate narrow and dangerous
spaces which are difficult for a human to enter (Li et al. 2016; Takeda 2011).
The authors are studying to realize a microrobot that can operate autonomously
like insects. Small insects such as ants have excellent autonomous systems packaged
to a small sized body. In modern robotics, there are difficulties in realizing a small
and autonomously operating the microrobots. Miniaturization of a power supply,
G. Osada · A. Mizumoto · S. Hirao · Y. Hayakawa · D. Noguchi
Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
M. Kaneko · F. Uchikoba · K. Saito (B)
College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan
e-mail: kensaito@eme.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability I, Sustainable Production, Life Cycle
Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6779-7_30
425