Reanimated Spider Carcasses Converted into Bio-Hybrid Robots dubbed as "Necrobotics"
Dead spiders, often observed in a chilling, clawed pose after death, could hold unexpected benefits for the field of robotics. Scientists at Rice University have used these organisms to create a new type of robotic system, dubbed "necrobotics." This groundbreaking innovation employs dead wolf spiders as the foundation for miniature, biotic robots.
Their research is detailed in a 2022 paper published in Advanced Science, accompanied by demonstrative videos showing the applications of these spider necrobots. In one video, a necrobot is observed disrupting an electrical circuit, while another shows it picking up an object. There's even a video of a wolf spider necrobot lifting another deceased spider.
To transform a spider's corpse into a robot, researchers studied the creatures' movement mechanisms. Unlike muscles, spiders rely on hydraulic pressure to control their eight legs. A specialized chamber called the prosoma facilitates this process, channeling bodily fluids into the limbs to make them extend. As the fluid volume decreases, the legs retract to their natural, clawed position.
"It turns out that the spider, after it has expired, is the perfect blueprint for small-scale, naturally derived grippers," said Daniel Preston of Rice's George R. Brown School of Engineering, who contributed to the study.
By using a needle and superglue, the researchers created a seal in the prosoma chamber, enabling them to inject air into the spider's limbs, causing them to inflate and extend. By reducing the air pressure, the legs closed in again, resulting in a mechanical gripper made of biotic materials, albeit of deceased origins.
The potential uses for these spider necrobots are intriguing. In a lab setting, they were found to last around 1,000 trials before beginning to deteriorate. With the addition of a protective coating, Faye Yap, the study's lead author and a doctoral student at Rice University's engineering department, believes they could be useful for pick-and-place tasks in microelectronics manufacturing.
Moreover, their natural camouflage could make them effective tools for capturing insects in their habitat. As for their future applications, one can only speculate. Perhaps necrobotics could someday see use in public spaces, like a park near you.
This research represents a blend of biology and robotics, offering unique advantages in precision and adaptability while facing challenges due to the inherent vulnerabilities of the biological components.
[Source: Advanced Science, July 2022]
- The research published in Advanced Science reveals that dead wolf spiders, studied for their movement mechanisms, can serve as the foundation for miniature, biotic robots, dubbed "necrobots," in the field of robotics.
- Necrobotics has potential applications in various sectors, including microelectronics manufacturing, where Faye Yap, the study's lead author, suggests they could be useful for pick-and-place tasks due to their durability and natural camouflage.
- The study, a blend of biology and robotics, highlights the benefits of necrobotics in terms of precision and adaptability, although inherent vulnerabilities of biological components may present challenges for their future applications, possibly extending to public spaces like parks.
