Water walking bionic microrobot now a reality

A research team funded by Harbin Institute of Technology and Natural Science Foundation of China has created a sophisticated microrobot that can walk on water. Borrowing the concept from a water insect called Gerridae (commonly known as water striders), the researchers have mimicked the insect's build to create water-striding abilities for the microrobot.

Bionic Microrobot

Just as these insects use their light bodies and the surface tension of the water to stride over water bodies, the microrobot too has a small body - of the size of a coin, ten long legs at the side to help in floating and two short legs in front that will act as oars to the two miniature motors in its body that will provide the necessary propulsion. The study appeared in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, where it goes on to say that despite the weight of the robotic water strider being almost 390 times the weight of a real water strider, it has been designed in such a way that it does not sink in water. In fact, it is able to move in water just as a water strider would, along with additional rotary movements.

This is not the first time that a microrobot along the lines of the water strider has been created. But, according to the scientists, this bionic microrobot will far surpass the rest in terms of agility, sophistication, and economical value. It can be used on water pollution monitoring projects and covert military operations.

Via: Gizmag