Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaohang Luo, Xiaoxiao Dong, Hong Zhao, Travis Shihao Hu, Xiuping Lan, Lan Ding, Jiapeng Li, Huiqin Ni, Jordan A. Contreras, Hongbo Zeng, Quan Xu
Summary: Inspired by the microstructure of gecko toes, a drivable bionic gecko toe adhesion surface with double-layer structure was designed and fabricated, which can achieve reversible transition of adhesion/desorption. This structurally optimized surface has great design potential and is expected to provide insights into the preparation of robots.
MATERIALS TODAY PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yang Liu, Shaoxin Song, Meng Liu, Yue Hu, Lu-wen Zhang, Hyunsik Yoon, Lili Yang, Dengteng Ge
Summary: This study presents an ultrasensitive mechanooptical membrane based on dye and silica nanoparticles, demonstrating high sensitivity and a wide strain range, with potential multifunctional applications in smart windows, sensors, and anti-counterfeiting.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Srinivasan A. Suresh, Amar Hajj-Ahmad, Elliot W. Hawkes, Mark R. Cutkosky
Summary: Traditional material testing methods involve controlling displacements or forces, with the former being more common. However, for gecko-inspired adhesives, a controlled force approach is more practical. Control displacement testing may lead to artifacts if the loading trajectory does not precisely match real-world deflections. Controlled force testing allows for accurate generation of adhesive limit curves without prior knowledge of material behavior or loading details associated with practical applications.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weiwei Shi, Xiao Cheng, Ke Cheng
Summary: This study presents a simple method to achieve anisotropic adhesion behavior in gecko-inspired adhesives using 3D printing technique. The structured polymer pillars exhibited 4-fold stronger adhesive forces compared to plain surfaces. Finite element analysis was used to demonstrate stress distributions and displacement variations. This work provides insights into the design and fabrication of gecko-inspired adhesives with anisotropic adhesion behaviors for practical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yunlei Zhang, Shuanhong Ma, Bin Li, Bo Yu, Haeshin Lee, Meirong Cai, Stanislav N. Gorb, Feng Zhou, Weimin Liu
Summary: The study developed a novel multilayered self-peeling switchable dry/wet adhesive with thermal-responsive curving behavior and switchable adhesion properties, and explained the dynamic curvature-induced switchable peeling mechanism theoretically. By integrating nanoparticles, remote control over switchable adhesion can be achieved. This research provides a new route for developing intelligent adhesion systems and mobile devices/robots.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuanyuan Mi, Yingchun Niu, Huiqin Ni, Yida Zhang, Lulu Wang, Yinping Liu, Melvin A. Ramos, Travis Shihao Hu, Quan Xu
Summary: A reversible dry adhesive surface has been developed, which reduces adhesion by inducing thermal expansion of the polydimethylsiloxane micropillar arrays. This work demonstrates a new strategy for realizing remote control of smart adhesives or surfaces, with potential applications in various fields.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaohang Luo, Xiaoxiao Dong, Yanguang Hou, Lifu Zhang, Penghao Zhang, Jiaye Cai, Ming Zhao, Melvin A. Ramos, Travis Shihao Hu, Hong Zhao, Quan Xu
Summary: Research combining TDPDA and PDMS micropillars has achieved high adhesion and self-cleaning performance, with effective self-cleaning mechanism controlled by light signals. By absorbing 808 nm wavelength light for heating and completing the self-cleaning process in a short time, this study may open new applications for biomimetic smart surfaces.
Article
Robotics
Wilson Ruotolo, Dane Brouwer, Mark R. Cutkosky
Summary: This study introduces an anthropomorphic end effector that combines adhesive principles with a multiphalange, multifinger design, using an elastic foundation model and grasping theory for kinematic changes. Tests on a prototype named farmHand confirmed shear load sharing and demonstrated adhesive manipulation beyond pick and place tasks.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Xiaosong Li, Pengpeng Bai, Xinxin Li, Lvzhou Li, Yuanzhe Li, Hongyu Lu, Liran Ma, Yonggang Meng, Yu Tian
Summary: The new design enhances uniform loading for attachment by restricting lateral shrinkage in the natural state, while facilitating flexible peeling for detachment by causing stress concentration in the bending state. It has easily scalable performance for a large area ranging from 1.5 to 150 cm(2) and a high load ranging from 20 to 700 N.
Article
Robotics
Chohei Pang, Qicheng Wang, Kinwing Mak, Hongyu Yu, Michael Yu Wang
Summary: This paper introduces a new adaptive gecko gripper called Viko 2.0, which effectively combines the advantages of adhesives and visuotactile sensors to solve the difficulty of grasping large objects for robotic grippers. Compared with a non-hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure with a multi-material design achieves a significant increase in adhesion and contact area, while the integrated visuotactile sensor can measure contact area, shear force, and incipient slip detection in real-time.
IEEE ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Zhongyi Chu, Jie Deng, Lin Su, Jing Cui, Fuchun Sun
Summary: This paper proposes a gecko-inspired adhesive robotic end effector for critical-contact manipulation. The end effector consists of a half-scissor variable-scale actuator, a high-sensitivity isotropic flexible capacitive tactile sensor, and a microwedge adhesive. The actuator provides large shear loading for the adhesive through controlling the normal displacement, while the sensor accurately detects contact forces and adhesion state. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed robotic end effector can stably grasp delicate objects in critical-contact condition.
SCIENCE CHINA-INFORMATION SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Liuwei Wang, Zhouyi Wang, Bingcheng Wang, Qingsong Yuan, Zhiyuan Weng, Zhendong Dai
Summary: The study investigates the reversible adhesion/release behavior and structural properties of gecko toes. A hierarchical adhesive bionic toe is designed, which can adhere to and release from targets reversibly. The bio-toe shows good adaptability, load capacity, and reversibility of adhesion.
Article
Robotics
Jiahui Qiu, Aihong Ji, Kongjun Zhu, Qinfei Han, Wei Wang, Qian Qi, Guangming Chen
Summary: A gecko-like robot with a flexible spine driven by shape memory alloy springs was proposed, inspired by the gecko's locomotory gait and posture. The static parameters of the springs were measured and a kinematic model of the spine mechanism was established. Planar motion tests of a prototype robot verified that a robot with a flexible spine has greater stride length, higher speed, and reduced turning radius compared to a rigid body.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hanwen Huang, Huateng Li, Xiuqing Shen, Kai Gu, Jia Guo, Changchun Wang
Summary: Reptiles like geckos use a combination of structural and pigmentary elements to create versatile colors and modulate skin brightness. Researchers have integrated thermochromic pigments and viologen-based electrochromic materials into colloidal photonic crystals for the first time, producing multiresponsive and large-sized photonic crystal films. These films can display RGB colors under different temperatures and adjust color brightness in response to external electric fields, mimicking the color variation abilities of geckos.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Amy Kyungwon Han, Amar Hajj-Ahmad, Mark R. Cutkosky
Summary: This study introduces a hybrid electrostatic and gecko-inspired gripping pad for robots to lift and carry bulky objects, with a high effective coefficient of friction. The combination of electrostatic effects and gecko-inspired adhesion allows the pad to conform to non-smooth surfaces, providing higher shear forces.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2021)
