Gecko-inspired Adhesive Technology

Introduction

• Non-sticky material mimicking gecko skin.
• Can hold objects like tomatoes, water bottles, and chip bags on smooth surfaces.
• Developed by Professor Mark Cutkosky's lab at Stanford.
• Applications: robotic grippers, tiny robots, space robots, wall-climbing robots.

Gecko Adhesion Principles

• Traditional sticky tape vs. gecko material.
• Gecko material is non-sticky; sticks only when necessary.
• Geckos don't use hairs, spikes, or suction cups.
• Geckos' toes contain structures called lamellae, and within them, there are seta and spatula.
• Gecko adhesion works through Van der Waals forces.

Van der Waals Forces

• Interaction between neutral atoms.
• Gecko's tiny spatula structures enable significant contact area.
• No strong ionic or hydrogen bonds involved.
• Similar to how gauge blocks or vinyl sheets stick.
• Human skin is too bumpy to feel these forces.

Artificial Gecko Adhesive

• Attempts to replicate gecko's structures using silicone polymer.
• Created by labor-intensive process using wax mold and razor blade.
• Micro-wedge structure mimics gecko's foot.
• Adhesive requires shear force to stick; easy to remove.
• Cleaning is straightforward with tape.

Applications

MicroTug Robots

• Small robots pulling heavy weights (17g robot pulls 20 kg).
• Gecko adhesive used on the underside of MicroTugs.

Space Applications

• Adhesive tested on Astrobee robot in the International Space Station.
• Robot can stick to walls and pick up objects in zero gravity.

Everyday Use

• Gecko adhesive can pull a car anchor.
• Potential for robotic grippers and scalability to climbing robots.

Human Applications

• Gecko adhesive enables human wall-climbing projects.

Conclusion

• Gecko-inspired adhesives have broad applications.
• Capable of delicate operations, such as handling produce.
• Grad student projects include personal wall-climbing using the adhesive.

Additional Resources

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