Remember a few years ago, scientists created a robot that had the ability to jump on water? That particular robot was created by scientists at China’s Harbin Institute of Technology, and it looks like scientists at the Seoul National University and Harvard University have joined forces to create a similar styled robot.
Similar to the water strider insect, scientists first studied how the insect was able to propel itself off the water. What they discovered was that the insects are pushing down on the water, but rather accelerate their legs so as not to break the water’s surface tension, and pulling their legs inward which helps increase the force of their push.
This movement was then replicated by the scientists who then created a robot that measures just 2cm long and with 5cm long wire legs attached to its sides. So far based on their tests, the scientists have managed to create a robot that can jump as high as 14.2cm, but that’s where it kind of stops as the robot does not have the ability to land upright.
So what’s the point of creating such a robot apart from the cool and novel factor? According to the researchers, they claim that such robots could be used for environmental monitoring missions on rivers and in oceans, or even be used for search and rescue missions, or even military surveillance, although that would mean that other technologies used for such missions could need to miniaturized as well.
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