Clingfish inspires powerful biomimetic suction cup

The prototype device mimics the disc on the underside of clingfish that is particularly adept at sticking to rough surfaces. The rim of the disc is covered with layers of micro-sized, hair like structures in various sizes. This layered effect creates more friction along the rim, while the entire disk is flexible and elastic, allowing the clingfish to hold on to coarse, uneven rocks and corals.

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"These fish are so evocative in what they can do,” said study co-author and marine biologist Adam Summers, who is based at the university’s Friday Harbour Laboratories on San Juan Island off the coast of Washington state.

“They can stick to irregular rocks covered in algae, and you cannot buy something that will reversibly stick to those rocks. An awful lot of experimentation and scepticism finally led us to understanding how it worked."