Magnetic Continuum Robot for Intelligent Manipulation in Medical Applications
ABSTRACT Magnetic continuum robots (MCRs) have garnered substantial attention as a new class of flexible robotic systems capable of navigating complex and confined spaces with remarkable dexterity. By combining continuous, deformable structures with remotely applied magnetic fields, MCRs achieve contactless, remote manipulation, making them well‐suited for medical applications. This review introduces recent advances in MCR research, focusing on design principles, structural configurations, and control strategies. Various MCR designs and structures, including those integrated with permanent magnets, magnetic matter, ferromagnetic sphere, and micro coil, are discussed. Furthermore, different magnetic actuation platforms are introduced, and the level of MCR automation is classified based on control strategies. Key intelligent manipulation capabilities of MCRs, including navigation, delivery, printing, grasping, imaging, and sensing are explored. Finally, future development priorities and directions are identified to provide insights for advancing intelligent robotic systems.
Authors
- Xuanyu An (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1674-3087)
- Veronica Iacovacci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4052-3581)
- Mingxue Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8430-5930)
- Jinke Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8335-1337)
- Tiantian Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5905-9216)
- Qijun Yang
- Qianqian Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8011-171X)
- Li Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9208-1949)
- Yuntao Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4550-9647)
- Zhiqiang Tang
Institutions
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (IT)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HK)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (GB)
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (CN)
- Science Oxford (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Southeast University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- SmartBot
- Published
- 2025-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smb2.12011
- Citations
- 22
- Primary Topic
- Soft Robotics and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.83
Funders
- European Commission
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Government of Jiangsu Province
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Southeast University