Acoustic power management by swarms of microscopic robots

Microscopic robots in the body could harvest energy from ultrasound to provide on-board control of autonomous behaviors such as measuring and communicating diagnostic information precisely delivering drugs. This paper evaluates acoustic power available micron-size that collect using pistons. Acoustic attenuation viscous drag on pistons are major limitations power. Frequencies around 100kHz can deliver hundreds picowatts a robot low-attenuation tissue within about 10cm transducers skin, but much less high-attenuation lung. However, applications microscopic involve large numbers significantly increase attenuation, thereby reducing for deep body. describes how collectively manage where when they mitigate this so swarm few hundred billion tens each robot, average.