Develop a sticking tool on the universe inspired by gecko feet

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are perfecting the technology of gecko-inspired footprints to help astronauts work more easily in the environment. gravitation.

Gecko pins inspire NASA to study tools on the universe

This technology is about to be equipped on the ISS International Space Station , including the inside and outside surfaces of the station as well as robot arms, astronaut tools, etc.

Living and working on the universe is not as simple as below the Earth. Everything is floating and astronauts must be equipped with dozens of support tools both fixed and mobile to help them swing, cling, avoid collision, hurt. In order to overcome this, NASA scientists have come up with a gecko biological mechanism and rely on it to create a new generation of tools that are more flexible and easy to manipulate under zero gravity conditions. .

Images of geckos - where millions of tiny hairs are born with Van der Waals electric force help geckos

Evolution has helped geckos own a special foot , making it easy to climb, no matter which surface it is. Gecko's foot surface has millions of microscopic hairs to hold onto a certain surface or object. The force of adhesion geckos is called Van der Waals - a quite unique force in physics. This force is formed when electrons are unevenly distributed when rotating around the nucleus of an atom, thereby creating an electric field with two positive and negative poles. At this time, this electric field will absorb nearby molecules, forming a temporary bonding system between the gecko and any surface it touches.

By creating a kind of material surface with millions of "hairs " with a size smaller than human hair, scientists at JPL can simulate the mechanism of adhesion with Van der Waals forces in gecko . As a result, they have a tool that has strong adhesion, and is flexible and convenient without requiring too much complicated technology.

Prototype material adhesion in a test

Currently, the team has created the initial prototypes of the said surface with dimensions of 2.5 x 10 cm, 5 x 15 cm and 7.6 x 20 cm, respectively. Tests under conditions of gravityless simulations under the Earth all yield very positive results: it can hold on to one that weighs 10 kg and one weighs about 100 kg. Each piece can be used up to 30,000 times and withstand various conditions of extreme conditions.

Under the plan, the team will equip these robots for repair and maintenance robots on the upcoming missions. Not stopping there, the team also wants to expand the applicability of this technology. Typically, it is possible to create a large surface to "capture" waste samples in space.