RI: Small: Distributed Network of BacteriaBots

该项目利用复杂而强大的细菌机制来驱动、传感、通信和控制一种新型的微米级机器人系统，称为BacteriaBots。这是通过(1)生物驱动和传感的计算建模实现的，(2)使用基于群体感应的行为，(3)使用细菌机器人的移动网络。这一努力有助于推动生物混合微型机器人科学和减少长度尺度的分布式控制所需的批判性理解。这对生物传感、医学、微制造和装配、微电子和生物材料等领域产生了巨大的社会经济效益。一个多层次的教育和推广计划将研究元素和发现整合到K-12，本科生和研究生的多学科教育研究经验中。

The project exploits the sophisticated and robust machinery of bacteria for actuation, sensing, communication, and control of a new class of micron scale robotic systems called BacteriaBots. This is achieved through (1) computational modeling of bio-actuation and sensing, (2) use of quorum sensing-based behaviors, and (3) use of mobile networks of BacteriaBots.This effort contributes to the critical understanding required to advance the science of bio-hybrid micro-robotics and distributed control at reduced length scales. This holds enormous promise for socio-economic benefit by significantly impacting the fields of bio-sensing, medicine, micro-manufacturing and assembly, microelectronics, and bio-materials. A multi-tier education and outreach plan integrates research elements and discoveries into multi-disciplinary educational research experiences for K-12, undergraduate and graduate students.