Gecko's Feet Inspire Adhesive for Surveillence Devices

IOP Publishing is pleased to announce the online publication of “Structural properties of a scaled gecko foot-hair” in the newly launched Bioinspiration & Biomimetics. The complex adhesive capabilities of geckos have challenged explanation for years. While scientists have begun to understand some of their unique abilities even more puzzling questions abound.

Geckos have millions of microscopic hairs on each foot. The tip of each hair is divided up even further. This allows the hairs to make very close contact with the surface. The weak interaction that each of the millions of hairs has with the surface combines to form a strong adhesive force. The geckos then remove their feet from the surface by peeling them off, similar to removing tape.

The researchers in this paper have taken inspiration from the structure of the gecko's foot to build a much larger (cm-scale) device. Each “hair” of the device has a small magnet at the end. The combination of the small forces combines to provide a secure adhesion to steel and/or iron surfaces. The multiple small points of contact allow the device to work on rough or curved surfaces. The adhesion is strong however it may be detached by peeling, as with the gecko’s foot. The results of this research may be of future use in the development of surveillance or inspection robots to operate on steel bridges, towers and even nuclear plants.