Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

Insects did it first: a micropatterned adhesive tape for robotic applications

Stanislav N Gorb1, Mitali Sinha1, Andrei Peressadko1, Kathryn A Daltorio2 and Roger D Quinn2

Show affiliations


Based on the structural and experimental studies of more than 300 insect species from different lineages, we have developed and characterized a bioinspired polymer material with the ability of multiple glue-free bonding and debonding. The material surface is covered with a pattern of microstructures, which resembles the geometry of tenent hairs previously described from the feet of flies, beetles, earwigs and other insects. The tape with such a microstructure pattern demonstrates at least two times higher pull-off force per unit apparent contact area compared to the flat polymer. Additionally, the tape is less sensitive to contamination by dust particles than a commercially available pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. Even if the 'insect tape' is contaminated, it can be washed with a soap solution in water, in order to completely recover its adhesive properties. We have successfully applied the tape to the 120 g wall-climbing robot Mini-Whegs™. Furthermore, the tape can be used for multiple adhering of objects to glass surfaces or as a protective tape for sensitive glass surfaces of optical quality. Another area of potential applications is gripping and manipulation of objects with smooth surfaces.


PACS

87.85.J- Biomaterials

07.07.Tw Servo and control equipment; robots

Subjects

Instrumentation and measurement

Dates

Issue 4 (December 2007)

Received 20 August 2007, accepted for publication 23 August 2007

Published 16 October 2007



  1. Insects did it first: a micropatterned adhesive tape for robotic applications

    Stanislav N Gorb et al 2007 Bioinspir. Biomim. 2 S117

  2. The infinite summations of perturbation theory in atomic multiphoton ionization

    G Laplanche et al 1976 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 9 1263

  3. Does sea ice influence Greenland ice sheet surface-melt?

    Asa K Rennermalm et al 2009 Environ. Res. Lett. 4 024011

  4. Topological methods for the comparison of structures using LDR-brachytherapy of the prostate as an example

    H Schiefer et al 2009 Phys. Med. Biol. 54 4959

  5. Urban waterfront rehabilitation: can it contribute to environmental improvements in the developing world?

    Derek Vollmer 2009 Environ. Res. Lett. 4 024003

  6. Inconsistencies in air quality metrics: 'Blue Sky' days and PM10 concentrations in Beijing

    Steven Q Andrews 2008 Environ. Res. Lett. 3 034009

  7. The water intensity of the transitional hydrogen economy

    Michael E Webber 2007 Environ. Res. Lett. 2 034007

  8. Micro throttle pump employing displacement amplification in an elastomeric substrate

    I D Johnston et al 2005 J. Micromech. Microeng. 15 1831

  9. Continuously variable mixing-ratio micromixer with elastomer valves

    Christabel K L Tan et al 2005 J. Micromech. Microeng. 15 1885

  10. Magnetic properties of iridium pyrochlores R2Ir2O7 (R = Y, Sm, Eu and Lu)

    Nobuyuki Taira et al 2001 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 13 5527

View by subject




Export








Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.