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Welcome to the Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab

The acoustic robotics systems lab (ARSL), located in the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center, headed by Prof. Daniel Ahmed, is engaged in developing innovative, cutting-edge research in micro and nanorobotics and systems for life science applications, diagnostics, and translational medicine. The lab focuses on

novel micro- and nanosystems for life sciences and biology
micro- and nanorobots for in vivo navigation
investigation of disease models in microfluidics and small animal models
translation of the new technologies into healthcare applications
ultrasound-assisted additive manufacturing

Student Projects

We are looking for highly motivated students to work with us at all levels. Please directly contact Prof. Daniel Ahmed if you are interested in joining our labs.

Bachelor's and Master's students (external page SiROP)
Visiting Master's students (Swiss-European Mobility Programme)
Visiting doctoral students, contact Prof. Daniel Ahmed
Doctoral students (external page Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships)
Postdoc (external page Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships)

News

16.10.2023

We are pleased to share that our lab made a significant impact at the MicroTas Conference held in Katowice, showcasing our pioneering acoustic microrobotics research and contributing to a very exciting conference.

9.10.2023

We are delighted to report our lab's successful representation at the MARSS 2023 Conference held in Abu Dhabi, where we presented our innovative research and discussed it with the microrobotics community.

13.1.2023

Our Nature Communications paper entitled “A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector” was highlighted in ETH main page and ETH news. A precision arm for miniature robots.

9.12.2022

At the 3ʳᵈ Global Webinar on 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing 2022, Prajwal Agrawal presented a plenary talk on " SonoPrint: Acoustically-assisted Volumetric Printing."

1.9.2022

MaP Symposium 2022

We presented a talk on "SonoPrint: Acoustically-assisted Volumetric Printing" at the MaP Graduate Symposium 2022.

1.9.2022

ARSL at the MaP Symposium 2022

Our poster, "MicroVol: High-throughput 3D micro-scale Volumetric (Bio)Printing system" presented by Dimitar Boev won the 3rd best MaP Poster Award at MaP Graduate Symposium, 2022.

ARSL at the EU Startup Summit

We presented our work on “SonoVat: An acoustically assisted vat polymerization-based (bio)printer" at the EU Startup Summit, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain.

Emphasizing the importance of combining acoustics with 3D printing and the applications it has.

13.05.2022

ARSL at the NACHTAKTIV Big Vibes

We presented the importance of acoustics to medical science at the NACHTACHTIV Big Vibes in Focus Terra Museum, Zurich. This was intended to advance young people's interest in science and instill a sense of importance towards the possibilities science can provide to the world.

20.05.2022

ARSL at ICRA 2022

We presented our recent work on "Starfish-inspired Ultrasound Ciliary Bands for Microrobotic Systems" at this years International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2022). Thank you for having us in the interesting workshop on how soft robots gain new abilities through smart and functional materials.

27.05.2022

Congratulations Alexia!
Our PhD student Alexia Del Campo Fonseca wins the Silver Medal of ETH Zurich for her outstanding Master thesis on "Acoustic self-assembled microrobots in physiological flows".

13.05.2022

ARSL at the Biochip Conference 2022

We presented our work on ‘Microfluidic physiological flows to test ultrasound controlled swarmbots’ at the International Forum in Biochips and Biochip solutions in Berlin.

10.05.2022

Finding inspiration in starfish larva

The new microbot inspired by starfish larva stirs up plastic beads. (Image: Cornel Dillinger/ETH Zurich)

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a tiny robot that mimics the movement of a starfish larva. It is driven by sound waves and equipped with tiny hairs that direct the fluid around it, just like its natural model. In the future, such microswimmers could deliver drugs to diseased cells with pinpoint accuracy.

09.11.2021

26.07.2021

external page Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021 in Engineering and Technology

Prof. Daniel Ahmed has been selected as one of ten winners in the Engineering and Technology category of the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021.

25.05.2021

Our research on SONOBOTS has been highlighted in Horizon Magazine.

external page Nanorobots could target cancers and clear blood clots

The Acoustic Robotics and Systems Lab (ARSL) in Rüschlikon

15.01.2020

Prof. Daniel Ahmed has set up his lab at the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center (BRNC) in Rüschlikon.

Recent Publications

Steerable acoustically powered starfish-inspired microrobot, Nanoscale (cover article), 2024.

SonoTransformers: Transformable Acoustically Activated Wireless Microscale Machines, PNAS, 2024.

Ultrasound trapping and navigation of microrobots in the mouse brain vasculature, Nature Communications, 2023.

An Acoustically Controlled Helical Microrobot, Science Advances, 2023.

Acoustic microbubble propulsion, train-like assembly and cargo transport, Nature Communications, 14, 4705, 2023.

A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector, Nature Communications, 13, 6370, 2022.

Rolling microswarms along acoustic virtual walls, Nature Communications, 13, 7347, 2022.

Ultrasound-Controlled Swarmbots Under Physiological Flow Conditions

Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2022

In vivo Acoustic Manipulation of Microparticles in Zebrafish Embryos

Science Advances, 2022

Ultrasound-activated Ciliary Bands for Microrobotic Systems Inspired by Starfish

Nature Communications, 2021

Bioinspired acousto-magnetic microswarm robots with upstream motility

Nature Machine Intelligence, 2021

Neutrophil-inspired propulsion in a combined acoustic and magnetic field

Nature Communications, 2017

Artificial Swimmers Propelled by Acoustically Activated Flagella

Nano Letters, 2016

Rotational manipulation of single cells and organisms using acoustic waves

Nature Communications, 2016

Selectively manipulable acoustic-powered microswimmers

Scientific Reports, 2015

Additional Information

The mission of ARSL is to develop innovative acoustic-based technologies for applications in biomedical engineering, diagnostics, and translational medicine in developed and developing nations.

Why Acoustics?

High frequency acoustic fields at moderate levels of pressure is regarded as a safe, non-invasive, and relatively inexpensive procedure, and it is used extensively in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.

ARSL

Prof. Dr. Daniel Ahmed

Phone +41 44 632 98 13

ETH Zurich
RSA G 324
Säumerstrasse 4
8803 Rüschlikon
Switzerland

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