Story 2V6P Climb der Waals with gecko-inspired grippers

Climb der Waals with gecko-inspired grippers

by
in science on (#2V6P)
New invention outperforms nature with new gecko-inspired devices that have been used to climb glass walls. "To be able to climb glass felt a little bit magical - it feels like you're hooking this device onto a perfectly flat smooth surface, and it doesn't feel possible," Hawkes said.

Geckos can scale vertical walls and even hang upside down because their plump toes are covered in hundreds of microscopic bristles called setae, which generate a kind of electric force known as van der Waals force, strong enough to keep geckos stuck onto surfaces. The devices are about the size of a human hand but are nevertheless strong enough to support the weight of a person. In contrast, real gecko feet would require a sticky surface at least 186 square inches (1,200 square centimeters) large, nearly twice the size of a modern tennis racket.

In addition to futuristic gear used by soldiers and spies to climb walls, the researchers suggest their new invention could lead to boots that help astronauts conducting spacewalks and to mechanical grippers that snag debris in orbit.
Reply 5 comments

Now that it's on in missori... (Score: -1, Troll)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-25 05:49 (#2V8N)

Will debian exclude you if you make disparaging remarks about looters?

The already do if you make disparaging remarks about women:
http://slashdot.org/submission/4008795/debian-excludes-game-due-to-authors-views-on-women

Requiem for Florissant (Score: -1, Offtopic)

by Anonymous Coward on 2014-11-25 08:32 (#2V8R)

Requiem for the street of West Florissant in Ferguson Missouri.
RIP. Bravely stood and tried to serve the community around.
Now gone.

http://youtu.be/MKWeF5dEI0g

Thieves (Score: 2, Interesting)

by hyper@pipedot.org on 2014-11-25 11:01 (#2V8X)

I can see this being the must have stocking filler item for aspiring thieves in a few years time :-)

Re: Thieves (Score: 1)

by tanuki64@pipedot.org on 2014-11-25 12:19 (#2V91)

And you must build your houses that they can safely use those devices.
God forbid you did not clean your windows properly, the grippers lose their
grip and the wannabe thief falls.

Not that you get sued....
http://overlawyered.com/2006/09/the-burglar-and-the-skylight-another-debunking-that-isnt/

Re: Thieves (Score: 2, Insightful)

by hyper@pipedot.org on 2014-11-25 13:05 (#2V94)

Sometimes I feel so disappointed by the human race. Suing the property owner when you are on their roof and fall down. Great.