Octopus-inspired underwater sticky device

In testing, the adhesive device with a curved, elastic body and deformable membrane was able to maintain its strength through 100 cycles.

Researchers have developed a new adhesive device that can pick up and release objects underwater with incredible precision , Interesting Engineering reported on October 10. The new study was published in the journal Advanced Science.

(Video: Chanhong Lee/Michael Bartlett/Virginia Tech).

"I was fascinated by how octopuses hold onto an object for a moment, then immediately release it. They do this underwater, with rough, curved, irregular objects - it's impressive," said Michael Bartlett, an expert at Virginia Tech University who led the study.

Scientists looked at the outermost part of an octopus's suckers, called funnels . These suckers are like stretchy hands that can grasp anything. They are made of living tissue and can adjust their shape and strength to suit each object. This means they can hold onto objects of different textures and shapes.

In the new study, the team developed a multi-surface adhesive device with a curved, elastic body and a deformable membrane. The device adheres to rough, curved, irregular surfaces in various liquid environments with impressive strength.

"When activated, the octopus-inspired adhesive is 1,000 times stronger than when in its relaxed state. Importantly, this transition occurs in just a fraction of a second, about 30 milliseconds," the team said.

Underwater adhesive device.

According to the team of scientists, the device has demonstrated reliable adhesion over multiple uses and over long periods of time. In testing, it maintained its strength through 100 cycles, even holding a rough stone underwater for more than seven days before releasing it on command. This durability is especially important in situations where an object needs to be held underwater for long periods of time, such as when workers are retrieving a sunken object.

Professor Bartlett previously developed the Octa-Glove, an octopus-inspired adhesive glove. The glove is equipped with a LIDAR sensor to detect and gently adhere to objects underwater. Potential applications for the Octa-Glove include rescue diving, underwater archaeology, user assistive technology, and healthcare. "We hope to use our new adhesive device to further improve the Octa-Glove ," Bartlett said.