Gecko-like robot that can climb up walls without adhesive developed by scientists

Scientists have developed a lizard-like robot that can climb up vertical walls, and crawl over ledges without using suction cups or adhesive.

The machine has tracks covered with dry microfibres which imitate the feet of a gecko - a lizard notorious for scaling windows and walls effortlessly.



The robot could provide alternative methods for cleaning windows, inspecting buildings and even be used in search-and-rescue operations.



Lizard-like: The newly created machine has tracks covered with dry microfibres which imitate the feet of a gecko - a lizard notorious for scaling windows and walls effortlessly

The British research journal Smart Materials and Structure said the robot is able to scale the steep surfaces because its tracks are studded with mushroom-shaped caps of polymer microfibres just 0.017mm and 0.01mm high.

Researcher Jeff Krahn of the Simon Fraser University at Burnaby, in Canada's British Columbia province explained the gecko's are able to use ultra-fine hairs and van der Waals force.to stick to surfaces.

Sticky feet: The robot is able to scale the steep surfaces because its tracks are studded with fibres similar to a gecko

He said: ' While van der Waals forces are considered to be relatively weak, the thin, flexible overhang provided by the mushroom cap ensures that the area of contact between the robot and the surface is maximised.

'The adhesive pads on geckos follow this same principle by utilising a large number of fibres, each with a very small tip. The more fibres a gecko has in contact, the greater attachment force it has on a surface



The gadget has been able to reach high speeds of up to 1.4inches per second and can carry and additional 110g of weight.



Krahn told the journal: ' We unfortunately haven't as of yet calculated a cost for achieving a practical gecko robot as we are still in the prototyping stage.'



The robot is currently attached to a cord providing power and control signals, but eventually it will be battery powered.

