Robo-Gecko Climbs Glass 143
galactic_grub writes "Researchers at Stanford have developed a robot that mimics the extraordinary climbing skills of the Gecko. These creatures can climb sheer surfaces thanks to the intermolecular forces exerted by millions of tiny hairs their feet, called setae. The robot, Stickybot, has polymer pads on its feed with synthetic setae. Check out the video of it climbing up a sheet of glass."
A new weapon? (Score:5, Funny)
I knew it! (Score:-1, Funny)
Obligatory (Score:4, Funny)
Seriously though, FTA "The Pentagon is interested in developing gecko-inspired climbing gloves and shoes." I want some of those, these if ever actually created (not sure what issues here would be but I assume mass, surface area and gravity would play in there somewhere) would have a huge impact on normal life. Just imagine the benefits to burglars, the next invention is going to have to be some very very slippery paint
Re:The Article. Shocked this is new (Score:4, Funny)
I agree. I don't understand what's involved to make this possible, ego, it must be easy!
Build me one of them search engine thingies. We'll go up against Google!
Re:Obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
Hmmm... (Score:4, Funny)
Utility gecko (Score:5, Funny)
Mirrors, anyone?
-- n
Re:Obligatory (Score:1, Funny)
At last I'll have something to go with my spider man underpants.
In other news.... (Score:5, Funny)
University officials were unavailable for comment.
Re:The Article. Shocked this is new (Score:5, Funny)
Doomed (Score:2, Funny)
Why, after seeing the mention of "Government" in that article, does that name look like Mark Cut Cost"-ky ?
Bad Plan, what are they thinking? (Score:5, Funny)
There was the one about the Japanese chick robot followed by the similar South Korean model, then a little farther back we have our artificial "muscle".
Combine those with the story a year or so back about the robots that power themselves by digesting organic matter and frankly all my best nightmares start out on Slashdot. I'll probably be in my 60's when the sexy Japanese carnivorous wall climbing robots with super strength come to get me.
Power of the Gecko (Score:5, Funny)
I don't see that showing up in IE7! Hah!
All you need... (Score:3, Funny)
Yes but... (Score:1, Funny)
You're nicked! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Power of the Gecko (Score:3, Funny)
Not only that, but it could save you 15% or more on your auto insurance!
At Home Version (Score:3, Funny)
I, for one, can't wait for the "at home" version.
Finally... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:my $0.02 (CDN) (BAD MODS) (Score:5, Funny)
Didn't even bother to read the article, eh, my Candian friend?
"Each of these hairs is attracted to the wall by an intermolecular force called the van der Waals force, and this allows the gecko's feet to adhere."
It's not your comment that pisses me off, it's the fact that it got moderated up... BAD MODS! NO COOKIE!
Re:Obligatory (Score:4, Funny)
Otherwise it wouldn't be much fun.
Re:A common misconception about glass (Score:3, Funny)
The thin end of course! This way, when glass inevitably will start flowing, it will have the effect of "evening out" the uneven thickness, rather than accentuating it further.