Geckos’ Amazing Grip Is Triggered By Gravity (via ScienceDaily)
“Geckos use microscopic, hair-like filaments to attach to surfaces. Only at certain angles do they switch on their traction system, however,” says Russell, a biological sciences professor at the U of C. “We are trying to understand this process, which will help in mimicking it for application to robotics….”
The scientists discovered that the tipping point which turns on the gecko’s adhesive system is 10 degrees. Three of the six geckos studied applied their adhesive system on a 10 degree slope. At 30 degrees all six applied the system. The three that applied the traction at 10 degrees slowed down, the three that didn’t were much quicker….
