The active surface device is a new type of automation concept to handle multiple objects with high precision. The concept consists of using a massively parallel microactuator array to generate a pressure field on a planar surface. The objects can be translated, rotated, and flipped by controlling this pressure field surrounding the objects. The architecture of the active surface device is designed in a modular manner, which allows the array to be expanded by simply adding modules to the system. A general-purpose test bed has been built to experiment with this new design. An object recognition algorithm and several control techniques have been successfully implemented to perform basic sensing and handling operations. The architecture and mechanisms of this prototype test bed and the implementation of algorithms are presented.

Most common requirements for micromanipulation are high precision, parallel manipulation, cost, etc. In this paper, we examine a manipulation method that may be useful for these requirements. The presented method uses an actively generated friction force field as a driving force of manipulation, and the method can have several actuation modes depending on the sliding condition of the friction force field. Planar dynamics regarding the proposed method were analyzed, and the design of the force field was investigated.

Research related to sub-millimeter or even micro-sized objects, such as micromechatronics, has the potential to make huge impacts on our society. Current manufacturing techniques, however, are incapable of massive parallel handling of objects at these scales. The lack of manufacturing techniques for massive parallel manipulation of so small objects presents a technology barrier to the eventual commercial success in fields like MEMS. The programmable and position closed-loop controllable pneumatic active surface device presented in this paper is a fundamentally new approach to automated massive small-sized parts manipulation. The appropriate choice of force generated by blowing or sucking air-flow through tubes of the pneumatic active surface device, is shown to cause objects placed on the array to be moved in manners that are useful It offers greater ability and speed and it can be employed to position, orient, identify, sort, feed, and assemble parts or objects on the active surface device. It can control several objects simultaneously. This paper first describes an experimental device and potential applications, and then it focuses on closed-loop positioning control techniques (translating) for rigid (VLSI chips, MEMS) objects and flexible (PVC polyvinyl foil, paper). The implemented control strategies have been successfully tested on the experimental device as described in the paper.