Functionalized Light Robotics

Withthe recentNobel Prize in Physics partly granted to the invention and applications of optical tweezers generating tremendous impact over the last few decades, we start to see a confluence of developments that is now ripe for the emergence of a new scientific area – Light Robotics – which combines advances in microscopic 3D­‐printing, 3D light sculpting and advanced light-­‐ matter interaction and actuation [1­‐3].

Last year we published an Elsevier book volume [4] covering the fundamental aspects needed for Light Robotics including optical trapping, microfabrication and micro-­‐assembly as well as underlying theoretical principles and experimental illustrations for optimizing optical forces and torques. Light Robotics is offering various novel functionalities that are enabled by these 3D designed light­‐driven micro­‐robots in addition to various nano­‐biophotonics applications demonstrating the unique use of biophysical tools based on light robotic concepts.

We have endeavored to make this new discipline accessible to a broad audience from advanced undergraduates and graduate students to practioners and researchers not only in contemporary nano­‐biophotonics and nanotechnology butalso to other areas of science and engineering at microscopic scales.