Space Robots Using NASA's Gecko-Inspired Technology Could Become Reality
- 9 years ago
NASA is developing an adhesive solution. Its inspiration comes from the animal kingdom, specifically geckos.
NASA is developing an adhesive solution, whose inspiration comes from the animal kingdom, specifically geckos. Among its potential future applications is a sticky material that could enable robots to maneuver around the International Space Station’s exterior or clean up space junk.
NASA used the knowledge that gecko feet are enhanced with thousands of small hairs to help them adhere to walls while climbing.
This ability results from a principle called van der Waals forces. NASA explains, "A slight electrical field is created because electrons orbiting the nuclei of atoms are not evenly spaced, so there are positive an
NASA is developing an adhesive solution, whose inspiration comes from the animal kingdom, specifically geckos. Among its potential future applications is a sticky material that could enable robots to maneuver around the International Space Station’s exterior or clean up space junk.
NASA used the knowledge that gecko feet are enhanced with thousands of small hairs to help them adhere to walls while climbing.
This ability results from a principle called van der Waals forces. NASA explains, "A slight electrical field is created because electrons orbiting the nuclei of atoms are not evenly spaced, so there are positive an