Scientists Study Adhesive Capabilities Of Geckos To Develop Surveillance Or Inspection Robots

ROBO SPACE

A gecko.

by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 31, 2007
IOP Publishing is pleased to announce the online publication of "Structural properties of a scaled gecko foot-hair" in the newly launched Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. The complex adhesive capabilities of geckos have challenged explanation for years. While scientists have begun to understand some of their unique abilities even more puzzling questions abound. Geckos have millions of microscopic hairs on each foot. The tip of each hair is divided up even further.

This allows the hairs to make very close contact with the surface. The weak interaction that each of the millions of hairs has with the surface combines to form a strong adhesive force. The geckos then remove their feet from the surface by peeling them off, similar to removing tape.

The researchers in this paper have taken inspiration from the structure of the gecko's foot to build a much larger (cm-scale) device. Each "hair" of the device has a small magnet at the end. The combination of the small forces combines to provide a secure adhesion to steel and/or iron surfaces. The multiple small points of contact allow the device to work on rough or curved surfaces.

The adhesion is strong however it may be detached by peeling, as with the gecko's foot. The results of this research may be of future use in the development of surveillance or inspection robots to operate on steel bridges, towers and even nuclear plants.

The article appears in the current online edition. The article will also be featured in the March 2007 print version of Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.

"Structural properties of a scaled gecko foot-hair" is authored by Jose Berengueres and Professor Shigeki Saito at Tokyo Institute of Technology, along with Kenjiro Tadakuma of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

ROBO SPACE

Japanese Women To Try Lipstick With Touch Of Button

Tokyo (AFP) Jan 26, 2007
Tech-savvy but fashion-conscious Japanese women who want to try an instant makeover discreetly now have a chance to do it at the touch of a button. In a project meant to help design "the department store of the future," Japan's top cosmetics maker Shiseido on Friday launched with partners a virtual make-up simulator on a trial basis. The customer's face appears on the computer and moves in real-time as she tries on lipstick, eyeshadows or blush at the top of the screen.

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