Mesoscale Machines and Electronics: “There’s Plenty of Room in the Middle”

Abstract Machine properties optimized in the mesoscale size regime include improved heat transfer, macroscopic electrostatic actuation, and chemical mixing. This manuscript describes the origin of these advantages along with the development of several energy-efficient meso-machines that exploit these properties. The advantages of direct-write mesoscale electronics are also presented. These include the ability to place the electronics on the physical structure of a machine to improve performance, reduce size and weight, and enhance durability.