""For years, researchers have been trying to build a robot that mimics the gecko lizard's ability to scale walls and ceilings of any texture, even glass. But duplicating the specialized biology of the lizard's feet -- which actually cling to surfaces thanks to molecular forces and not because of suction cups or toenails -- has proven difficult.
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Now a Canadian research team has designed a tank-like robot that's able to roll up walls using the same molecular "clinging" technique as the gecko. The robot's tread is able to maneuver a variety of smooth and uneven surfaces, can support the whole weight of the machine and can be cleaned with a simple rinse.
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"We can't do what geckos do quite yet, but we're getting closer," said Jeff Krahn, a research assistant at the Mechanisms ‘N Robotics for Viable Applications (MENRVA) Lab at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. He and his colleagues published their work in today's issue of Smart Materials and Structures.""
http://news.discovery.com/tech/gecko-inspired-robot-111101.html
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