Microrobotics

By Prof. I. A. Palani | IIT Indore

Learners enrolled: 1529 | Exam registration: 87

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Microrobotics is an interdisciplinary field that combines aspects of robotics, micro and nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, and materials science. The key objective of this course is to expose students to the fundamental aspects of the emerging field of microrobotics. This includes a focus on physical laws that predominate at the microscale, technologies for fabricating small devices, bio-inspired design, and applications of the field

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Engineering undergraduate and post graduate students, MSc and Ph.D Students, Faculties and Research scientist from Industries and R&D centers

PREREQUISITES: B.E/B.Tech( Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Production, Mechatronics, Instrumentation, electronics, Robotics and other relevant areas )

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: WABCO India Ltd, Volvo Eischer Ltd, Quantalase Enterprise Ltd Indore India, Zetatek Industries Ltd., Hyderavbad, Mahr Metrology india (P) Ltd., Radical Scientific Equipments Private Limited, Wavelength Opto-electronic (S) Pte. Ltd., Aimil Ltd., Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, AMETEK Instruments India Pvt. Ltd., Applied Optical Technologies Pvt.Ltd., Electro Optical Instruments Research Academy, Hyderabad

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Mechanical Engineering Robotics
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	04 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	02 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Scaling laws for Designing Micro robots: Scaling laws in fluids, electro-magnetism, Thermodynamics, optics and quantum effect a fundamentals to micro robotics systems

Week 2: Micromechanics system design: Micro-mechanics, design and selection of materials for micro- robotics systems, control for surface walkers.

Week 3: Micromechanics system design Exposure to different micro-fabrication techniques

Week 4: Microactuation and Micromanipulation -1 Magnetic actuation, electrostatic actuation, piezo electric actuation,

Week 5: Microactuation and Micromanipulation -2 shape memory alloy and conducting polymer based actuation, stick slip, comb drive actuator

Week 6: microsensors and microtransducers -2 opto-mechtaronics system design, optical based displacement sensor, sensor based on light intensity modulation, interferometers for micro sensing and optical fibre based sensor

Week 7: Microsensors and micro transducers -3 Gyroscopes accelerometers, mechanical switches, flow transducers, haptic interface and sensory skin for robotic systems

Week 8: Microsystems for microrobots: micro-pumps, micro engines, magnetic helical micro machines

Week 9: Micro systems for microrobots Atomic force microscope as micro/Nano robot, micro manipulation in particle assembly, 3D micro/Nano fiber pulling, integrated nano tool carrier

Week 10: Micro systems for microrobots: micro-assembly, micro air vehicles (MAVS) and multi robot systems.

Week 11: Bio- inspired microrobots: Microscale propulsion, locomotion in liquids, modeling of propulsion systems, micro mechanical flying insect,

Week 12: Bio- inspired microrobots :Gecko inspired climbing robots, bio-inspired fibrillar adhesive, lizard inspired water runner robot, water strider inspired water walker robot, Magnetic swimming micro-robot for bio-medical application, medical micro-robots for endoscopy and other applications

Books and references

Nicholas Chaillet, Stephen Regnier:Microrobotics for Micromanipulation:Wiley: IST, 2010:_:ISBN 978-1-84821-186-5
Yves Bellouard:Microrobotics, methods and applications:CRC Press, 2009:_:ISBN 9781420061956
Fatikow, Sergej, Rembold, Ulrich:Microsystem technology and microrobotics:Spirnger publication, 2000:_:ISBN 978-3-662-03450-7
Prof. Ananthasuresh:Micro and Smart Systems: Technology and Modelling,:Wiley 2012:India:ISBN : 9780470919392

Instructor bio

Prof. I. A. Palani

IIT Indore

Dr.I.A.Palani, is working as Associate Professor in the discipline of Mechanical Engineering IIT Indore. After completing his Doctorate from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, He worked as a post doctoral research scientist in Graduate school of Information science and electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan. He has developed Mechatronics and Instrumentation Lab at IIT Indore. His area of expertise includes, Microrobotics, laser assisted surface processing, micro-machining, Smart materials and shape memory alloys. He has published more than 100 international journal publications and he has filed 6 Indian Patents. He has executed project from different funding agencies such as DST, SERB, DAAD, JSPS, DRDO, MHRD. He has closely worked with industries such as Volvo Eischer, John Deere, WABCO as technical consultant. He is a member of SPIE, Indian Laser Association, Institute of Smart Materials and Structures.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 02, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Indore .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support