Space agency tries out gecko robot technology
Print Edition
A wall-crawling robot inspired by the gecko has taken a small but important step towards a future in space, scientists said yesterday.
It could be the forerunner of automatons which crawl along the hulls of spacecraft, maintaining them, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.
Its footpads are covered with dry microfibers modelled on the toe hair of the gecko, which is celebrated for its ability to scuttle up windows and along walls yet not leave a trace.
Researchers at Canada’s Simon Fraser University developed a six-legged climbing robot, nicknamed Abigaille.
The “dry adhesive” that helps Abigaille climb walls has now been put through its paces at ESA’s European Space and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.
“This is an example of biomimicry, taking engineering solutions from the natural world,” said team leader Mike Henrey.
Tests found that the adhesive worked like a charm, ESA said.
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