Engineering and Technology

Snail-inspired water-enhanced soft sliding suction for climbing robots

T. Yue, H. Bloomfield-gadelha, et al.

Dive into the fascinating world of robotics with research by Tianqi Yue, Hermes Bloomfield-Gadelha, and Jonathan Rossiter from the University of Bristol. This study unveils a lightweight robot inspired by snails, capable of impressive vertical and inverted sliding locomotion, utilizing water to enhance suction and reduce friction. Discover how this innovative technology could revolutionize climbing robots with high efficiency and payload management!

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Index

Abstract

Snails exhibit stable sliding locomotion using a single high-payload sucker, a mechanism potentially beneficial for climbing robots. This research proposes an artificial sliding suction mechanism inspired by snails, utilizing water as an artificial mucus to reduce friction and enhance suction. A lightweight robot (96g) demonstrates vertical and inverted sliding, achieving high speeds (53°/s rotation, 19 mm/s translation) and high payload (1kg tested, 5.03kg theoretical). This method offers a low-cost, energy-efficient, high-payload, and clean adhesive locomotion strategy.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

May 13, 2024

Authors

Tianqi Yue, Hermes Bloomfield-Gadelha, Jonathan Rossiter