Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.

Abstract: A biocompatible adhesive is disclosed. The biocompatible adhesive includes a substrate and a plurality of micro-scale elements extending from a surface of the substrate having a length selected to puncture a layer of a target tissue or target material. At least some of the micro-scale elements include at least one protrusion dimensioned to anchor the biocompatible adhesive to the target tissue or target material. A medical device assembly is also disclosed. The medical device assembly includes the biocompatible adhesive coupled to a surface of a component of the medical device assembly and positioned to attach the medical device assembly to the target tissue or target material. A method of facilitating attachment of a medical device assembly to a target tissue is also disclosed. A method of facilitating treatment of a wound is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth. A negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures is defined in a surface of the first cavity. The mold includes at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures. The at least one second cavity defines a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale structure. A fabric retaining frame is disposed in the first cavity.

Abstract: A surface affixable device incorporating mechanically actuated dry adhesive includes a body and a plurality of tiles affixed to the body. Each of the plurality of tiles includes an array of dry adhesive material elements disposed on front faces thereof. A first of the plurality of tiles is movably affixed to the body. An actuator is constructed and arranged to displace the first of the plurality of tiles in a first direction relative to a second of the plurality of tiles. A biasing element applies a bias to the first of the plurality of tiles in a second direction upon displacement of the first of the plurality of tiles in the first direction.

Abstract: A wire fabrication apparatus includes a number of fluid channels, each fluid channel configured to receive a first portion of a corresponding wire of a number of wires and including a fluid flowing in a first direction therein. A twisting mechanism is configured for attachment to second portions of the number of wires, the twisting mechanism being configured to draw the number of wires from the number of fluid channels in a second direction opposite to the first direction and to twist the number of drawn wires. A controller controls twisting mechanism to form a twisted wire, including controlling the twisting mechanism to draw the number of wires from the number of fluid channels in the second direction and to twist the drawn wire.

Abstract: Current ear-inserts are custom made, have variable sizes, and often fall out of the user's ear. In an embodiment, a gripping ear-insert includes a sealed membrane having conformable material therein (e.g., within a cavity). The sealed membrane is configured to form a shape conforming to a section of the human ear upon insertion. The gripping ear-insert also includes a port configured to, in response to being activated, allow for adjustment of air pressure within the sealed membrane. The gripping ear-insert can also include a control coupled with the port, configured such that in response to the control being activated, the port evacuates air from a cavity of the sealed membrane, such that the sealed membrane retains its shape after evacuation of the air. As such, the gripping ear-insert is secured in the user's ear while the amount of air/air pressure is adjusted.

Abstract: A hybrid adhesion system includes an adhesion head including at least one suction cup and a handle and a vacuum generator mechanically coupled to the adhesion head. The vacuum generator includes at least one pneumatic cylinder having an internal volume in fluid communication with the at least one suction cup and a piston having a piston rod mechanically coupled to a manual actuator.

Abstract: A surface affixable device incorporating mechanically actuated dry adhesive includes a body and a plurality of tiles affixed to the body. Each of the plurality of tiles includes an array of dry adhesive material elements disposed on front faces thereof. A first of the plurality of tiles is movably affixed to the body. An actuator is constructed and arranged to displace the first of the plurality of tiles in a first direction relative to a second of the plurality of tiles. A biasing element applies a bias to the first of the plurality of tiles in a second direction upon displacement of the first of the plurality of tiles in the first direction.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal mold for casting a micro-scale dry adhesive structure includes securing a master patch of material including a micro-scale dry adhesive structure on a plating fixture, electroforming the metal mold on the patch of material, and removing the metal mold from the plating fixture and patch of material.

Abstract: A method of assembly of micro/nano-scale objects into lattice or truss structures.

Abstract: A method of fabricating ultra-thin semiconductor devices includes forming an array of semiconductor dielets mechanically suspended on a frame with at least one tether connecting each semiconductor dielet of the array of semiconductor dielets to the frame.

Abstract: A method of fabricating ultra-thin semiconductor devices includes forming an array of semiconductor dielets mechanically suspended on a frame with at least one tether connecting each semiconductor dielet of the array of semiconductor dielets to the frame.

Abstract: A method of fabricating ultra-thin semiconductor devices includes forming an array of semiconductor dielets mechanically suspended on a frame with at least one tether connecting each semiconductor dielet of the array of semiconductor dielets to the frame.

Abstract: A method of fabricating ultra-thin semiconductor devices includes forming an array of semiconductor dielets mechanically suspended on a frame with at least one tether connecting each semiconductor dielet of the array of semiconductor dielets to the frame.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth. A negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures is defined in a surface of the first cavity. The mold includes at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures. The at least one second cavity defines a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale structure. A fabric retaining frame is disposed in the first cavity.

Abstract: A mold for casting a micro-scale dry adhesive structure includes an upper surface including a first cavity having a first depth, a negative pattern for an array of micro-scale structures defined in a surface of the first cavity, and at least one second cavity having a second depth defined in the cavity outside of the negative pattern for the array of micro-scale structures, the at least one second cavity defining a negative pattern for a standoff of the micro-scale dry adhesive structure.

Abstract: A hybrid adhesion system includes an adhesion head including at least one suction cup and a handle and a vacuum generator mechanically coupled to the adhesion head. The vacuum generator includes at least one pneumatic cylinder having an internal volume in fluid communication with the at least one suction cup and a piston having a piston rod mechanically coupled to a manual actuator.

Abstract: A method of assembly of micro-scale objects includes forming a pattern of a first functional moiety on a surface of a substrate, contacting the surface of the substrate with a first liquid suspension including first micro-scale feedstock elements functionalized with a second functional moiety, complimentary to the first functional moiety, on first portions of the first micro-scale feedstock elements and functionalized with a third functional moiety on second portions of the first micro-scale feedstock elements, aligning the first portions of the first micro-scale feedstock elements with the surface of the substrate, and facilitating bonding the second functional moieties to the first functional moieties to form a first microstructure pattern of the first micro-scale feedstock elements on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Wires, such as microwires or nanowires are braided, woven or twisted by attaching an end piece to a first end of a plurality of wires, wherein the end piece has a response to an electromagnetic or fluidic work force different than that of the wire. The end pieces are manipulated relative to each other by selective application of electromagnetic or fluidic force that braids, weaves or twist the wires at the first end, while the second ends of each of the wires remain fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotary device includes a multiwall nanotube that extends substantially perpendicularly from a substrate. A rotor may be coupled to an outer wall of the multiwall nanotube, be spaced apart from the substrate, and be free to rotate around an elongate axis of the multiwall nanotube.