A robot walks on water thanks to evolution's solution

6 days ago

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Robots inspired by Rhagovelia water striders can glide across water surfaces.
Rhagovelia insects have fan-like appendages that passively adjust to water movement, enabling effortless gliding.
Biologist Victor Ortega-Jimenez studied these insects to understand their rapid maneuvers on water.
The leg fans of Rhagovelia automatically adjust to surface tension and elastic forces, opening and closing rapidly.
These fans generate propulsion by covering a large surface area and maintaining shape during movement.
Rhagovelia's hydrophobic legs repel water, preventing them from being weighed down.
Ortega-Jimenez's team used a scanning electron microscope to study the structure of the leg fans.
The fans are made of flat barbs with barbules, a previously unknown structure.

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