CMU Water Strider Robot
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Wednesday, 12 of December , 2007 at 7:24 am
Surface tension is really, really neat: it’s what causes liquids to form spheres in microgravity, and what allows insects like water striders to skate across still water without sinking. It’s a very efficient means of travel, and it’s also fast: water striders are some of the fastest moving insects in the world, able to traverse 100 body-lengths per second (that scales up to a human running 400 mph). What better insect to inspire a robot? Carnegie Mellon University’s NanoRobotics lab has been able to create this robotic water strider, which is able to walk (and even bounce) on still water. Potential applications are diverse, but include obvious things like water quality management, espionage, and creeping people out. Video:
[ CMU Water Strider ] VIA [ Environmental Graffiti ]
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Category: Research
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Comment by Cheryl's Place
Made Thursday, 13 of December , 2007 at 4:03 pm
Water Strider? Surface Tension? Other than the fascinating fact that it travels at the equivalent of 400 mph I’m not sure what I would do with one. Although walking on water would be a great skill to have.