Tiny GeiwBot takes inspiration from geckos and inchworms

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Surgeons could one day call on the services of GeiwBot, a small robot inspired by the gripping ability of geckos and efficient locomotion of inchworms.

Tiny new robot - dubbed the GeiwBot - could one day assist surgeons
Tiny new robot - dubbed the GeiwBot - could one day assist surgeons - University of Waterloo

This is the claim of engineers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, whose robot uses ultraviolet (UV) light and magnetic force to move on any surface, including walls and across ceilings.

According to the University, it is the first soft robot of its kind that does not require connection to an external power supply, enabling remote operation and versatility for potential applications such as assisting surgeons and searching inaccessible places.

“This work is the first time a holistic soft robot has climbed on inverted surfaces, advancing state-of-the-art soft robotics innovation,” said Dr Boxin Zhao, a professor of chemical engineering and the University of Waterloo Endowed Chair in Nanotechnology. “We are optimistic about its potential, with much more development, in several different fields.”

Constructed from a smart material, GeiwBot can be altered at the molecular level to mimic how geckos adhere to surfaces with their feet. 

That enables the robot, which is about 4cm long, 3mm wide and 1mm thick, to climb a vertical wall and across the ceiling without being tethered to a power source. 

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Zhao and his research team constructed the robot using liquid crystal elastomers and synthetic adhesive pads. A light-responsive polymer strip simulates the arching and stretching motion of an inchworm, while gecko-inspired magnet pads at either end do the gripping. 

“Even though there are still limitations to overcome, this development represents a significant milestone for utilising biomimicry and smart materials for soft robots,” Zhao said in a statement. “Nature is a great source of inspiration and nanotechnology is an exciting way to apply its lessons.”

The next step for researchers is to develop a solely light-driven climbing soft robot that doesn’t require a magnetic field and uses near-infrared radiation instead of UV light to improve biocompatibility.

A paper on the work, Gecko-and-inchworm-inspired untethered soft robot for climbing on walls and ceilings, has been published in Cell Reports Physical Science.

biomimetic robot