Researchers create tiny robots that mimic water striders

Shawn Knight

Posts: 15,289   +192
Staff member

Researchers at Harvard University in collaboration with colleagues at Seoul National University have developed a robot that can not only walk on water, it can jump on it.

The robot, which measures just 0.75 inches tall and weighs only two-thousandths of an ounce, was inspired by water strider bugs. The robot is surprisingly easy to assemble and perhaps more surprisingly, it can exert a force 16 times its own body weight as it stands on the surface of water.

Researchers believe the tiny robots could one day be used in search operations.

Found is a TechSpot feature where we share clever, funny or otherwise interesting stuff from around the web.

Permalink to story.

 
We used to have water striders in our pool in chicago when my father and I maintained it. Never would run the filter. Had a bug called backswimmers too, which kept a bubble of air attached to their bodies. I think both flew when the water was clear. And my mom doesn't want to go in this pool at our condo maintained by pros.
 
Surely, a box of artificial water striders in your supermarket will be selling like hot cakes.
 
Back