Traditionally, spiders don’t jump off surfaces without having some sort of plan as to landing. Many species of spider will affix themselves to their perch via a thin thread that acts as a safety tether.
This robot spider uses safety tethers to control its fall
The robot, named the LEAP (Line-Equipped Autonomous Platform), is mostly made from LEGO Technics pieces with a spool of yarn made from nylon, acting as its safety line.
Researchers at the University of Cape Town in South Africa have given a similar capability to their own robotic “spider.”
The robot, named the LEAP (Line-Equipped Autonomous Platform), is mostly made from LEGO Technics pieces with a spool of yarn made from nylon, acting as its safety line.
Ass the robot falls, it adjusts the tension of the unwinding line with the help of a DC motor. By adding or reducing the strength of its drag on the line, the LEAP can change its flight path as desired.
This application doesn’t work yet for controlling the LEAPs yaw or pitch but the research team looks to address these issues in a future iteration of the LEAP and, eventually, create a robot that can competently leap from a resting point and land on its feet.
This isn’t the first time a spiders’ abilities will be repurposed for the benefit of humankind. If this process is incorporated into future high-rise fire escape systems, then there could no longer be a need for chutes and ladders, just climb onto a tethered platform that throws itself off the roof.
Watch a video of the robot spider in action below.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng