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Embodied cross-domain intelligence in biomedical microrobots: a review
File(s)
Author(s)
Tan, Zongcai
Lan, Wei
Kangyi, Lu
Dandan, Zhang
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microrobots are emerging as transformative tools for biomedical applications, including mini mally invasive diagnostics, targeted therapy, and microsurgical intervention. However, achieving reliable performance and adaptation to diverse tasks and environments requires capabilities that exceed any single form of intelligence. Here we introduce embodied cross-domain intelligence, a framework for synergistic coupling across physical (PI), biological (BI), computational (CI), and human (HI) intelligence, enabling multifunctional, collaborative, and adaptive microrobotic behaviour in dynamic, safety-critical biological settings. Unlike prior reviews that address these intelligence domains in isolation, this review aims to provide a unified framework, outlining each domain’s principles, recent advances, and limitations; analysing the interfaces that foster synergy; and mapping representative domain combinations to major biomedical applications. We further identify core challenges in integration, control, safety, and validation, and outline future research directions to accelerate clinical translation. By framing biomedical microrobot development as a cross-domain synergy challenge, this review aims to guide interdisciplinary efforts toward systems capable of executing complex, multi-stage tasks across their operational lifecycle. The associated project is available on online project page.
Date Acceptance
2026-02-26
Citation
Cyborg and Bionic Systems
URI
DOI
ISSN
2097-1087
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Journal / Book Title
Cyborg and Bionic Systems
Copyright Statement
Copyright This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the author’s accepted manuscript will be made available under a CC-BY License in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy).
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted