June 1, 2011 08:55 pm EDT

Gecko-inspired water-powered robot scales glass, washes windows (sort of)

We've seen some pretty impressive Spidey-like robots in our time, but honestly, crawling walls isn't always enough to pique or interest. A robot that can scale buildings and wash windows -- now that's something to get excited about. Like this little wall climber, the gecko-inspired machine enlists the Bernoulli principle, using the flow of water through fluidic vacuum generators that allow the reptilian robot to get a grip on smooth surfaces. Next, the water is directed through a solenoid valve to a piston in the robot's spine, and finally, the excess liquid is expelled and used to get glass gleaming. Currently, the little machine is capable of carrying twice its weight, and uses a small battery to power a "wireless communication system" and the servos used to control its direction. We're definitely intrigued, but judging from the video (after the break), we're pretty sure it's no match for flesh and blood window washers.

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Gecko-inspired water-powered robot scales glass, washes windows (sort of) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original Link: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/gecko-inspired-water-powered-robot-scales-glass-washes-windows/

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