Scalable control of pneumatic and fluidic networks remains fundamentally constrained by architectures that require continuous power input, dense external control hardware, and fixed routing topologies. Current valve arrays rely on such continuous actuation and mechanically fixed routing, imposing substantial thermal and architectural overhead. Here, we introduce the Switchable-polarity Electropermanent Magnet (S-EPM), a bistable magnetic architecture that spatially redistributes its external magnetic field through transient electrical excitation. By reconfiguring internal flux pathways within a composite magnet assembly, the S-EPM exchanges reinforced and weakened magnetic-field regions while maintaining bistable, zero-power state retention. We integrate this architecture into a compact pinch-valve to robustly control pneumatic and liquid media. This state-encoded magnetic control enables programmable fluidic networks, including decoders, hierarchical distribution modules, and a nonvolatile six-port routing array. By embedding functionality in persistent magnetic states rather than continuous power or static plumbing, this work establishes a scalable foundation for programmable fluidics and self-driving laboratories.
Pumping fluids is fundamental to a wide range of industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications. Among various pumping mechanisms, peristaltic pumps enable efficient and safe fluid transport by deforming an elastic tube without direct contact with the working fluid. Although previous studies have introduced mechanical, pneumatic, or magnetic actuations to drive membrane deformation, these approaches often lead to complex pump architectures and control schemes. In this study, we present a soft membrane pump that achieves peristaltic motion through a single pneumatic input combined with an embedded passive magnet. The actuation mechanism and system dynamics were analyzed and simplified through modeling. Numerical simulations were conducted to predict the internal fluid flow, and the magneto-elastic hysteresis behavior observed in the simulations was successfully validated by experiments with a proof-of-concept prototype.
The capability to encode spatially distinct magnetization patterns within soft materials enables remote control over complex deformations. This characteristic is especially important for microfluidic platforms, where limited dynamic control of channel boundaries and laminar flow conditions usually restrict fluid transport and interactions. The present study introduces a shape-programmable magnetic soft membrane actuator as an active microchannel component that can dynamically modulate its shape under magnetic fields and therefore the microfluidic environment. The membrane is magnetically programmed using a template-based approach, which allows it to be controllably deformed in the form of a sinusoid under the influence of an external magnetic field. The membrane's integration into a microchannel converts a passive channel wall into a dynamically changeable interface, allowing active fluid manipulation and enhancing micromixing in laminar flow conditions. The proposed approach establishes a versatile platform for wirelessly controlled deformable interfaces in next-generation microfluidic and lab-on-chip systems.
Electromagnetic navigation systems (eMNS) enable a number of magnetically guided surgical procedures. A challenge in magnetically manipulating surgical tools is that the effective workspace of an eMNS is often severely constrained by power and thermal limits. We show that system-level control design significantly expands this workspace by reducing the currents needed to achieve a desired motion. We identified five key system approaches that enable this expansion: (i) motion-centric torque/force objectives, (ii) energy-optimal current allocation, (iii) real-time pose estimation, (iv) dynamic feedback, and (v) high-bandwidth eMNS components. As a result, we stabilize a 3D inverted pendulum on an eight-coil OctoMag eMNS with significantly lower currents (0.1-0.2 A vs. 8-14 A), by replacing a field-centric field-alignment strategy with a motion-centric torque/force-based approach. We generalize to multi-agent control by simultaneously stabilizing two inverted pendulums within a shared workspace, exploiting magnetic-field nonlinearity and coil redundancy for independent actuation. A structured analysis compares the electromagnetic workspaces of both paradigms and examines current-allocation strategies that map motion objectives to coil currents. Cross-platform evaluation of the clinically oriented Navion eMNS further demonstrates substantial workspace expansion by maintaining stable balancing at distances up to 50 cm from the coils. The results demonstrate that feedback is a practical path to scalable, efficient, and clinically relevant magnetic manipulation.