Tuning upstream swimming of micro-robots by shape and cargo size

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Abdallah, Lisicki, Maciej, Mathijssen, Arnold J. T. M.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2020
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author Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Abdallah
Lisicki, Maciej
Mathijssen, Arnold J. T. M.
author_facet Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Abdallah
Lisicki, Maciej
Mathijssen, Arnold J. T. M.
contents The navigation of micro-robots in complex flow environments is controlled by rheotaxis, the reorientation with respect to flow gradients. Here we demonstrate how payloads can be exploited to enhance the motion against flows. Using fully resolved hydrodynamic simulations, the mechanisms are described that allow micro-robots of different shapes to reorient upstream. We find that cargo pullers are the fastest at most flow strengths, but pushers feature a non-trivial optimum as a function of the counter flow strength. Moreover, the rheotactic performance can be maximised by tuning the micro-robot shape or cargo size. These results may be used to control micro-swimmer navigation, but they also apply to rheotaxis in microbial ecology and the prevention of bacterial contamination dynamics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2004_05694
institution arXiv
publishDate 2020
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Tuning upstream swimming of micro-robots by shape and cargo size
Daddi-Moussa-Ider, Abdallah
Lisicki, Maciej
Mathijssen, Arnold J. T. M.
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Fluid Dynamics
Medical Physics
The navigation of micro-robots in complex flow environments is controlled by rheotaxis, the reorientation with respect to flow gradients. Here we demonstrate how payloads can be exploited to enhance the motion against flows. Using fully resolved hydrodynamic simulations, the mechanisms are described that allow micro-robots of different shapes to reorient upstream. We find that cargo pullers are the fastest at most flow strengths, but pushers feature a non-trivial optimum as a function of the counter flow strength. Moreover, the rheotactic performance can be maximised by tuning the micro-robot shape or cargo size. These results may be used to control micro-swimmer navigation, but they also apply to rheotaxis in microbial ecology and the prevention of bacterial contamination dynamics.
title Tuning upstream swimming of micro-robots by shape and cargo size
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Fluid Dynamics
Medical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.05694