Tech giant IBM has been granted a US patent for a technology for transporting microparticles using a “smart” material printed on a 4D printer. According to the patent, these smart materials could use shape-memory alloys or polymers that respond to external forces such as temperature, light, magnetism or electric current.
Tech giant IBM has been granted a US patent for a technology for transporting microparticles using a “smart” material printed on a 4D printer. According to the patent, these smart materials could use shape-memory alloys or polymers that respond to external forces such as temperature, light, magnetism or electric current.
After deformation, smart materials return to their original shape, which allows them to be used to transport small particles that would be difficult or impossible to transport using traditional delivery methods, writes Tom's Hardware.
The user first needs to specify the delivery route and environmental conditions, as well as the size, shape, weight and composition of the cargo to be delivered. The machine learning algorithm then applies the appropriate stimulus to move the material. This could be heat or light, which causes one or another part of the 4D material to react, generating an action that leads to an equal but opposite reaction.
In addition to following the user’s initial path, IBM’s machine learning monitors the 4D-printed smart material for any deviations or blockages. This allows operations to proceed with minimal human intervention. All external stimuli are removed when it reaches its destination, allowing the smart material to deliver its payload.
In addition to tracking the user’s initial path, IBM’s machine learning monitors the 4D-printed smart material for any deviations or blockages. This will resolve the situation, allowing the operation to continue without human intervention. All external stimuli are removed when the destination is reached, allowing the smart material to deliver its payload.
This technology allows the delivery of microparticles ranging in diameter from 1 to 100 microns. In addition, different control methods mean they can travel through different environments, making the technology useful for medical and industrial applications.
For example, doctors and medical technologists could use this technology to deliver drugs to specific cells through the blood or gastrointestinal tract. It could also be used to produce miniature electronics and possibly introduce a new method for manufacturing semiconductors.
