Scientists design robots that walk on water
August 1st, 2011 - 4:21 pm ICT by IANSWashington, Aug 1 (IANS) An aquatic microrobot can walk or run on water, mimicking the amazing abilities of the ‘water strider’ — a long legged insect that effortlessly skims across pond and lakes surfaces.
The bionic bot is a vast improvement over previous devices of this kind that position it as a prime candidate for military spy missions, water pollution monitoring and other applications, the scientists say.
Even though the microrobot weighs as much as 390 water striders, it does not sink when placed on water, but stands, walks and runs effortlessly on its surface, the journal Applied Materials & Interfaces reports.
“Walking on the water surface is a dream of humans, but it is exactly the way of life for some aquatic insects,” says Zhejiang University associate professor of chemical engineering Qinmin Pan, who has achieved this rare feat.
Other scientists have made tiny aquatic devices based on the water strider. But until now, no one has found a way to make water-walking robots that are practical, agile, and inexpensive, according to a Zhejiang statement.
The new robot has a body about the size of a quarter; 10 water-repellent, wire legs; and two movable, oar-like legs - propelled by two miniature motors.
- Key to water striders striding lies in its optimal legs - Aug 10, 2008
- Soon, insect-like robots that crawl into creeks and carry heavy loads - Jul 03, 2010
- Now, an exoskeleton that helps the paralysed walk again - Oct 08, 2010
- Pound of aerogel can ferry half tonne boatloads - Mar 26, 2012
- Scientists build worlds most buoyant boats - Mar 21, 2009
- Self-cleaning walls and water-striding robots come closer to reality - May 05, 2009
- Cockroach 'to fine-tune robots of the future' - Feb 08, 2011
- New robotic devices to give stroke patients a helping hand, leg up - Jun 19, 2010
- Snake-like robo discovers how lizards swim through the sand - Feb 25, 2011
- Insects inspires mother of all adhesives - Nov 06, 2011
- Japanese robot to allow long distance chats by mimicking speakers' movements - Aug 05, 2010
- 'Living' microbot to detect diseases in future - Mar 30, 2012
- Cockroaches inspiration behind future robots - Feb 08, 2011
- Harmful gut bug inspires robotics design - Aug 04, 2011
- How thousands of fire ants stay afloat despite piling on top of one another - Apr 26, 2011
Tags: applied materials, aquatic devices, aquatic insects, design robots, long legged insect, microrobot, military spy, oar, prime candidate, rare feat, spy missions, university associate professor, walking on the water, water pollution, water repellent, water strider, water striders, water surface, wire legs, zhejiang university