Autonomous programmable microscopic electronic lablets optimized with digital control

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and fabrication of autonomous, programmable microscopic electronic lablets with integrated power and communication capabilities, enabling advanced control and sensing at microscopic scales.

Contribution

It introduces optimized CMOS-based microscopic lablets with integrated power sources and docking capabilities, advancing autonomous control and potential self-reproduction functionalities.

Findings

Design of 140x140x50 μm lablets with integrated supercapacitors

Ability to dock and exchange energy, signals, and chemicals

Potential for autonomous sensing, control, and evolution

Abstract

Lablets are autonomous microscopic particles with programmable CMOS electronics that can control electrokinetic phenomena and electrochemical reactions in solution via actuator and sensor microelectrodes. In this paper, we describe the design and fabrication of optimized singulated lablets (CMOS3) with dimensions 140x140x50 micrometers carrying an integrated coplanar encapsulated supercapacitor as a rechargeable power supply. The lablets are designed to allow docking to one another or to a smart surface for interchange of energy, electronic information, and chemicals. The paper focusses on the digital and analog design of the lablets to allow significant programmable functionality in a microscopic footprint, including the control of autonomous actuation and sensing up to the level of being able to support a complete lablet self-reproduction life cycle, although experimentally this remains to be proven. The potential of lablets in autonomous sensing and control and for evolutionary experimentation are discussed.