Pneumatically actuated biomimetic particle transporter

To prevent the adhesion of particles at surfaces by transporting them along the surface, a new type of pneumatically actuated particle transporter is introduced. The biomimetic approach is based on the transportation principle of particles by cilia arrays due to the generation of metachronal waves. Rows of flaps, which mimic the cilia, are asymmetrically positioned on flexible membranes. The membranes are individually deflected by applying a well-defined pressure profile to achieve a metachronal wave. Detailed simulations of the membrane and flap deflections as well as a description of the proof-of-concept by applying metachronal waves to the flap arrays are presented.