Insects did it first: a micropatterned adhesive tape for robotic applications.
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.
Gorb
Stanislav N
SN
Evolutionary Biomaterials Group, Department of Thin Films and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Heisenbergstr. 3, D-70569, Stuttgart, Germany. s.gorb@mf.mpg.de
Sinha
Mitali
M
Peressadko
Andrei
A
Daltorio
Kathryn A
KA
Quinn
Roger D
RD
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D053832:Surgical Tape