We report a systematic study of the dynamics of self-propelled particles (SPPs) over a one-dimensional periodic potential landscape $U_0\left(x\right)$, which is fabricated on a microgroove-patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. From the measured nonequilibrium probability density function $P(x;F_0)$ of the SPPs, we find that the escape dynamics of the slow rotating SPPs across the potential landscape can be described by an effective potential $U_{\text{eff}}(x;F_0)$, once the self-propulsion force $F_0$ is included into the potential under the fixed angle approximation. This work demonstrates that the parallel microgrooves provide a versatile platform for a quantitative understanding of the interplay among the self-propulsion force $F_0$, spatial confinement by $U_0\left(x\right)$, and thermal noise, as well as its effects on activity-assisted escape dynamics and transport of the SPPs.

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• Nonequilibrium fluctuations
• Colloids
• Living matter & active matter
• Self-propelled particles