The concept of
walking on water might sound supernatural, but in fact it is a quite natural
phenomenon. Many small living creatures leverage water's surface tension to
maneuver themselves around. One of the most complex maneuvers, jumping on
water, is achieved by a species of semi-aquatic insects called water striders
that not only skim along water's surface but also generate enough upward thrust
with their legs to launch themselves airborne from it.
An international
team of scientists from Seoul National University, Korea (SNU), Harvard's Wyss
Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, and the Harvard John A.
Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, has unveiled a novel
robotic insect that can jump off of water's surface. they have revealed new
insights into the natural mechanics that allow water striders to jump from
rigid ground or fluid water with the same amount of power and height.
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