  Topological protection allows robust transport of localized phenomena such as
quantum information, solitons, and dislocations. The transport can be either
dissipative or non-dissipative. Here, we experimentally demonstrate and
theoretically explain the topologically protected dissipative motion of
colloidal particles above a periodic hexagonal magnetic pattern. By driving the
system with periodic modulation loops of an external and spatially homogeneous
magnetic field, we achieve total control over the motion of diamagnetic and
paramagnetic colloids. We can transport simultaneously and independently each
type of colloid along any of the six crystallographic directions of the pattern
via adiabatic or deterministic ratchet motion. Both types of motion are
topologically protected. As an application, we implement an automatic
topologically protected quality control of a chemical reaction between
functionalized colloids. Our results are relevant to other systems with the
same symmetry.
