A Novel Swimmer Actuator Via Leaky Surface Acoustic Wave

Abstract

Robotic swimmer represents a rapidly emerging and fascinating research area. Particularly, small size swimmer is attempt to be a drug carrier or fixer inside the human body. Simultaneously, acoustic microfluidics represents one of very few inertial phenomena that may actually play a significant role in microfluidic devices. In this study, a novel approach to the swimmer actuator via leaky surface acoustic wave (LSAW)is first proposed in the world. Surface acoustic wave is excited with a unidirectional interdigital transducer in the 128° y-rotated x-propagation lithium niobate substrate. The speed and propulsion of the swimmer are measured.