Researchers develop robotic leg in the shape of a spider's leg
A spider's leg is quite simple. Researchers have now created an artificial robot leg that is based on that of a pumpkin spider.
The artificial spider leg feels for pollen.
(Image: University of Tartu)
A team of scientists from the Italian Institute of Technology at the University of Tartu has developed a robotic leg that is modeled on the leg of a pumpkin spider. The researchers use almost the same movement mechanism as biological spiders to move the artificial spider leg.
In the spider's body, the fluid hemolymph activates the spider's muscles and exoskeleton, the researchers write in their study "A Spider Leg-Inspired mm-Scale Soft Exoskeleton Enabled by Liquid via Hydration and Charge Transport", which was published in Advanced Functional Materials.
Recreation of a biological spider leg
For the artificial spider leg the size of a fingernail, the scientists created an exoskeleton made of light-curing resin, which is moved by an artificial muscle made of polypyrrole. It is activated by an electrical signal. The exoskeleton is filled with an electrolyte solution that is similar in composition to hemolymph. The exoskeleton also contains a stiffer tendon made of a resin, which, like the artificial, electroactive polymer muscle, is surrounded by the electrolyte solution.
The solution behaves similarly to the hemolymph of biological spiders. It influences the properties of the exoskeleton by making it more flexible. The artificial spider leg begins to move due to the change in shape of the polymer. This happens quite slowly after an electrical voltage is applied.
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The scientists tested the spider leg's abilities by interacting with different objects. For example, they had the spider's leg pick up cowslip pollen and touch a spider's web. The pollen and the spider web remained undamaged.
The researchers now hope to be able to integrate their spider leg into a miniature spider-like robot. This should then move like a biological spider and be able to move around in rough terrain. The Italian researchers have disaster areas in mind where such artificial spiders could be used to track down survivors.
(olb)