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.
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
Stanislav N
SN
Gorb
Mitali
M
Sinha
Andrei
A
Peressadko
Kathryn A
KA
Daltorio
Roger D
RD
Quinn
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