Translating energy into swarming motion for miniature entities remains a challenge. This translation requires simultaneously breaking the symmetry of the system to enable locomotion and a coupling effect between the objects that are part of the population to induce the collective motion. Here, we report on Robocoliths, engineered Emiliania huxleyi (EHUX) coccolith-based miniature hybrid entities capable of swarming behavior. EHUX coccoliths are characterized by an asymmetric morphology that allows breaking symmetry, playing a central role in generating a net force and directed motion. Their activation with the bioinspired material polydopamine not only endows the asymmetric coccoliths with advanced functionalities, such as thermal- and energy-harvesting responsiveness under visible light exposure to display a collective behavior (i.e., swarming), but it also provides a functional surface from which antifouling polymer brushes are grown. In this context, Robocoliths pave the way for the next generation of multifunctional swarming bio-micromachines.

将能量转化为微型实体的蜂群运动仍然是一个挑战。这种平移需要同时破坏系统的对称性，以实现运动以及作为总体一部分的物体之间的耦合效应，以引起集体运动。在这里，我们报道了Robocoliths，Emiliaania huxleyi（EHUX）基于cococolith的微型混合实体，这些群体具有泛滥行为。H球石的特征是不对称形态，可以破坏对称性，在产生净力和定向运动中起着核心作用。它们被生物启发性材料聚多巴胺激活，不仅赋予不对称cococoliths先进的功能，例如在可见光下的热能和能量收集响应能力，以表现出集体行为（例如，蜂拥而至），而且还提供了功能性表面生长了防污聚合物刷。在这种情况下，Robocoliths为下一代多功能群集生物微机铺平了道路。