The most surprising characteristic of the gecko is its ability to walk effortlessly on any kind of surfaces, vertically, or upside down, even on the ceilings. And he does it although its feets and fingers are not adhesive and have no form of suction cup.
Man has been trying to explain this behavior for centuries! Even since the 3Th century BC ! Aristotle, THE Greek philosopher, wrote about the gecko: " He climbs very fast on trees, and in all directions, even upside down ". (History of The Animals, book 9, translation Barthélemy Saint-Hilaire).
After years of researchs, and many hypothesis, the secret of geckos agility has been revealed and it should allow for new technological advances in adhesives, even developing new applications for space programs.
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Sharklet is the world's first technology to inhibit bacterial growth through pattern alone. The Sharklet surface is comprised of millions of microscopic features arranged in a distinct diamond pattern. The structure of the pattern alone inhibits bacteria from attaching, colonizing and forming biofilms. Sharklet contains no toxic additives or chemicals, and uses no antibiotics or antimicrobials.
Sharklet draws inspiration from the shape and pattern of the dermal denticles of sharkskin. Sharks are resistant to fouling organisms in the water including algae and barnacles.
Founded in 2007, Sharklet Technologies, Inc. uses the Sharklet micropattern to control bacteria and other microorganisms. Originally discovered by Dr. Tony Brennan at the University of Florida, STI has licensed the technology to develop medical devices and consumer applications utilizing the Sharklet pattern.
After relocating in 2009, we are now located in the Colorado Bioscience Park in Aurora, Colorado, in a facility that includes business development and management offices as well as a GLP-ready microbiology and cell culture lab.
Videos :
The board Biomim'review :
Contact:
Her name is Cataglyphis and she's great. She is a desert ant, a navigator who moves without GPS, thanks to a celestial compass because she can "read" light!
Researchers have deciphered its secret and even used it as a bio-inspired tool to develop the AntBot robot, a revolution in future navigation strategies.
Discover this fantastic story inspired by the living with Stéphane Viollet, Director of Research at CNRS, Institut des Sciences du Mouvement (ISM-UMR7287) Aix Marseille University, and Antoine Wystrach, Research Fellow at the CNRS, Animal Cognition Research Centre in Toulouse (CNRS) Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III), told at Biomim'expo 2019.
Other videos :
Sources / contacts :
CNRS researcher l Stéphane Viollet // T +33 4 91 82 83 68 // +33 6 34 14 15 94 // stephane.viollet@univamu.fr
Press CNRS l Priscilla Dacher // T +33 1 44 96 46 06 // priscilla.dacher@cnrs.fr
Other releases :
The CNRS press release: The first legged robot that moves without GPS
Science Robotics : AntBot: A six-legged walking robot able to home like desert ants in outdoor environments
Futura Sciences : Meet Antbot, an ant-inspired robot that moves without GPS
Engineering techniques : AntBot: a robot that orientates itself like an ant - Applications to visual navigation without GPS or magnetometer
Rfi : AntBot, ant robot without GPS
The World : AntBot, an autonomous robot inspired by desert ants
CNES is a public industrial and commercial establishment (EPIC). It proposes France's space policy to the public authorities and implements it in five major strategic areas: Ariane, Science, Observation, Telecommunications and Defence.
Its 2 500 employees are spread over four centres of excellence: the Toulouse Space Centre for the design of orbital systems, the Launchers Directorate for the development of launch systems, the Guiana Space Centre for the implementation of European launchers and the Headquarters for the elaboration of space policy.
CNES maintains very close relations with the space industry, its European partners in the framework of the European Space Agency and the European Commission, and internationally. CNES is a major player in economic diplomacy and has enabled French industry to achieve many successes.
CNES is interested in bio-inspiration as a source of potential innovative solutions to the new challenges of space conquest and exploration.
CLIMATE CITY is the first global system dedicated to the adaptation of the world's major cities to local climate risks.
CLIMATE CITY IS AT THE HEART OF TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES OF THE 21st CENTURY:
With the ability to permanently observe the urban climate,
CLIMATE CITY aims to anticipate pollution, natural disasters and heat islands in urban areas.
Contact:
Laurent Husson, co-founder
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