Gecko

Over the years, we've heard about multiple systems that copy gecko feet in order to pick up delicate objects without breaking them. Korean scientists have now taken things further, by adding a means of harmlessly letting go of those items.

​The superhero-like abilities of the humble gecko have inspired countless avenues of scientific research, and biologists have uncovered yet another incredible talent to add to the list – the enterprising lizard species also has the ability to run on water.

Like many lizards, geckos can detach their tail in order to evade a predator, then regrow it complete with the spinal cord. Now, a scientist has discovered how they go about doing it. His findings could lead to improved treatment of spinal cord injuries in humans.

Stanford University and have come up with a robotic gripper that's based on the sticky pads of the gecko. The difference is that instead of helping a lizard to stick to window panes, this gripper is designed to gently latch onto dead satellites and other debris.

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are honing the applications of a gecko-like gripping mechanism in the hope of making life a little less chaotic for those working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Scientists in Australia are looking at the manner in which a particular type of gecko is able to stay clean. Their findings could pave the way for things like water-repelling electronics, or clothes that never need washing.

NASA wants to use the unreal gripping power of gecko feet to reach out and grab space junk in orbit. The technology has already been successfully tested under weightless conditions.

Four years ago, we heard about how Stanford scientists were developing a gecko-inspired system that would allow humans to climb up vertical surfaces. Now, DARPA has announced the first successful demonstration of that system, known as Z-Man.

A couple of years ago, we first heard about a gecko-inspired reusable adhesive known as Geckskin. Now, its creators have announced a new version that works better on rough surfaces, such as drywall and wood.

Unlike adhesive tape, gecko's feet retain their sticky qualities even after many, many uses. Now, thanks to research being conducted at Carnegie Mellon University and Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, we may one day be using self-cleaning reusable gecko-inspired tape.

The super-adhesive "Geckskin" can stick a 700-pound load to the wall without leaving a sticky residue.

With inspiration from nature, researchers have created a new dry adhesive tape that is not only boasts impressive adhesive strength, but can also be attached and detached thousands of times without losing its adhesive properties.