This is not the first time that suction cups were inspired by very adaptive octopus -sukkels. Some models have under pressure -linked rooms that are meant to push and meet them. Others have focused more on matching the morphology of a biological fool. This included giving the losers microdenticles, the small tooth-like projections on Octopus sukkels that give them a stronger grip.
Previous methods for artificial conformation have had some success, but they can be susceptible to leakage of holes between the fool and the surface on which it tries to stay, and they often needed vacuum pumps to work. Yue and his team created a loser that was morphologically and mechanically comparable to that of an Octopus.
Pangkels are muscular structures with extreme flexibility that helps them to conform to objects without leakage, contracting when grabbing objects and releasing tension when let go. This inspired the researchers to make losers of a silicone sponge material on the inside and a soft silicone cushion on the outside.
For the ultimate biomimicry, Yue thought that the answer to the problems with earlier models was to come up with a loser that simulated the mucus fencing of Octopus -Sukkels.
This is really bad
Cephalopod -sucking power was previously considered a product of the soft, flexible bodies of these beings, which can easily deform themselves to adapt to the surface it needs. Slime fencing was usually overlooked until Yue decided to include it in his Robo sisters.
Mollus mucus is known as five times more viscous than water. For Yue's suckers creates an artificial liquid system, designed to imitate the partitions released by glands on a biological fool, a liquid seal between the dash and the surface on which it holds, just about eliminating holes. It may not have the strength of Octopus mucus, but water is the next best option for a robot that is immersed in water when it explores, possibly in underwater caves or on the bottom of the ocean.
