Robot climbs on surfaces by using supersonic non-contact grippers

Robots are capable of doing a lot of things ranging from delicate to hazardous tasks. Despite the great advancements in the field of robotics, scientists are continuously trying to make more and more sophisticated robots. Recently, researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand have developed a robot that can climb on walls and ceilings without even actually touching the surface. This ability of a non-contact vacuum grip instilled in the robot is beneficial to help a robot pick up delicate objects and scale new heights.

robot uses supersonic air jets to climb on walls

This robot works on the Bernoulli principle. According to the Bernoulli principle, when a fluid moves fast, its pressure decreases. In case of this robot, air acts as the fluid. When the researchers made the high-speed air to be forced out of gaps as small as 25 μm, it generated air with a supersonic speed of Mach 3. This extremely fast airflow created low pressure, thereby, generating a vacuum force that was strong enough to pull the robot and help it to move on different kinds of surfaces without actually coming in contact with them.

robot uses supersonic air jets to climb on walls 1

Bernoulli principle has been used earlier too, but then robots weren't strong enough to benefit from it. Compared to the earlier versions, this robot is five times stronger. This is because of the small 25-μm gaps made in the edges of the grippers of the robot. Thus, the new robot does not require any extra effort to increase the airflow or the pressure. It is just managed by the minute size of gaps in the gripper. Unlike the older Bernoulli gripper, the new supersonic grippers can not only support the weight of the robot but can also carry five times extra weight.

According to the researchers, the robot can be very useful in performing industrial inspections. They have also announced that the new supersonic non-contact grippers will be soon available in the market for a few hundred dollars. Such advancements in the field of robotics will really be helpful in performing those difficult tasks, which are either risky or impossible for human beings.

Via: IEEESpectrum/Physorg