Adhesive Underwater Robot Utilizes 3D Printing to Mimic Gecko

A Chinese team has developed an underwater robot modeled after rock-climbing fish. The robot can adhere to surfaces with a force equivalent to 1,000 times its weight. Remarkably, it can also glide underwater at a speed of 7.83 times its body length per second.

The research, led by Liu Lianqing from the Shenyang Institute of Automation, discovered that the underwater gecko’s unique combination of strong adhesion and swift gliding results from setae structures on its suction cup edges. These setae transform a contact area with water into a sticky substance, resisting detachment forces.

Adhesive Underwater Robot Utilizes 3D Printing to Mimic Gecko
3D printed setae structures. (Image Credit: Shenyang Institute of Automation)

Meanwhile, a water film on this interface acts as a lubricant during movement. By utilizing 3D printing, the team reproduced these setae structures within soft suction cups, leading to the creation of “Climbot”, an underwater adhering-sliding robot. In tests, Climbot securely adhered to a moving ship model, demonstrating smooth underwater gliding.

The Climbot offers potential advancements for marine science, underwater exploration, and ocean engineering. As technology progresses, we may see wider adoption of such sub-aqua biomimetic robots, enhancing underwater operations and research.

Come and let us know your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly additive manufacturing newsletter to get all the latest stories delivered right to your inbox.

منبع: https://3dprinting.com/news/adhesive-underwater-robot-utilizes-3d-printing-to-mimic-gecko/

بخوان:  Bioprinted Muscles Can Contract After Just 10 Days of Growth
نوشته ایجاد شد 1690

نوشته های مرتبط

متنی که میخواهید برای جستجو وارد کرده و دکمه جستجو را فشار دهید. برای لغو دکمه ESC را فشار دهید.

بازگشت به بالا