Wall-climbing robot scales nearly any building material

Most of the bots we've seen recently have either been targeted at performing human-like tasks or simply too adorable to actually fear, but SRI International's wall-climbing robot is doing its best to put some terror back in the bot game, using something called "electro-adhesion" to cling to nearly any building material and climb with surprising alacrity. Electro-adhesion is apparently relatively low-power, and SRI researchers say that the bots can even climb walls that are covered in dust or other debris. Interesting -- just don't give the thing any cameras or lasers, okay? Video after the break.

[theapple @ May 21st 2008 5:23AM]

KOOOL spiderman robot

[starkman @ May 21st 2008 5:39AM]

spiderborg...spiderborg..does whatever a spiderborg does...

[kal326 @ May 21st 2008 10:20AM]

@starkman
Thats exactly what I was thinking, much better then spider pig.....

[computer.dude.28 @ May 21st 2008 6:20PM]

Maybe so, but a spiderpig would eat this.

[HydePark @ May 21st 2008 5:47AM]

SPIDERBOT!!!

[dervheid @ May 21st 2008 5:47AM]

O-kay.
But just how much of a load can it carry? Is it any REAL USE, or just a toy / proof of concept.
If they have one that actually carries a payload, THEN I might be impressed.

[Mike10010100 @ May 21st 2008 6:13AM]

It doesn't have to be able to hold much, only a small camera to actually be useful for reconnaissance.

[Ayman @ May 21st 2008 7:25AM]

Did Any one here anything from the clip
I didnt

When i was i kid i had a RC car that I drove on the floor and Wall
It used Suction Power and was incredibly light (Even screws were plastic)
only problem was it had the most annoying noise. (basically a Hoover)

So long story short
Did any one here anything, if not may be it is very noisy hence there goes the reconnaissance

[Le Master @ May 21st 2008 10:14AM]

You can see how it was developed in this fascinating presentation at TED:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/195

[marty.com.au @ May 21st 2008 5:51AM]

That looks like it uses a coveyer belt of post-it notes WTF ???

[kobaj @ May 21st 2008 5:58AM]

muahaaa very good

[kobaj @ May 21st 2008 5:57AM]

cool

[Dash-2 @ May 21st 2008 6:04AM]

Wonder if it can get down by itself. =D

[shaun @ May 21st 2008 6:04AM]

When you watch the video you're just waiting for it to fall aren't u

[techFTW @ May 21st 2008 6:12AM]

Yep :)

[RobW @ May 21st 2008 6:21AM]

Did anyone else think of the spider scanners from Minority Report?

[gad get @ May 21st 2008 6:24AM]

Nope.

[ITRanger @ May 21st 2008 6:39AM]

Keep up the good work guys, I've got some walls that need painting!

[dervheid @ May 21st 2008 6:49AM]

"It doesn't have to be able to hold much, only a small camera to actually be useful for reconnaissance."

so that'd be a camera on its own, or do you want to add storage capacity; communications (or is it going to be autonomous, in which case we'll neeed some advanced A.I.); additional power for the aforementioned

like I said, turn it into a FUNCTIONAL device and I'll go from "clever concept" to "impressed".

[SD @ May 21st 2008 8:49AM]

Yea and people probably thought the Wright Brothers were crazy to invent something that could fly!... i mean.. would they be able to really put that to good use?.. like for example transport people or things to different places?

True, as it stands right now this wall-climbing robot thing might not be able to do much, but if they put some more work into it, i'm sure they will definitely be able to improve on it.

Do you always have such a positive outlook on life?

[sinjinn @ May 21st 2008 10:25AM]

i dont understand your point. they have developed a robot that can walk up walls , but you want it to be able to do more stuff, already, like its supposed to not only be the first robot o climb walls but also the first robot to climb a wall while playing the keyboard.

[dervheid @ May 21st 2008 10:55AM]

SD
Nah! Usually I'm a right miserable bastard full of pessimism, not the misplaced optimism I'm displaying here.
sinjinn
So, it can climb up walls. So can your average SLUG. Doesn't automatically make it useful.
Why do we have to be overawed by it at this stage. Don't you want them to take this and turn it into something useful. Or would you rather it remained as just a breifly interesting toy?

[computer.dude.28 @ May 21st 2008 6:23PM]

dervheid, when your point gets low ranked, it's usually the best idea to abandon it, because this usually means that nobody is agreeing with you..

[dervheid @ May 22nd 2008 3:05AM]

OOOH!
So, just because I get low ranked by YOU guys, I have to give up my position?

Aye, that WILL be fecking right!

You are entitled to your opinion, and the right to defend that position. I am entitled to mine. WTF gives you the right to instruct me to give up on my opinion, or do you not believe in freedom of opinion. I couldn't give a TOSS if no-one agrees with me, and I'll be buggered if I'm taking advice from someone whose handle includes a number, and the word "dude"!

[sinjinn @ May 22nd 2008 8:47AM]

dervheid

i think the reason you are being low ranked is because you fail to recognise the inventions potential.

as an example, when the wright brothers mad the first flight you would have probably been as much as a pessimist then saying "pah , so it can fly a 100 meters, so what? that isnt very usefull"

see, now thats very shortsighted. the same applies to this invention. you cant expect every invention to have an immediate practical use. instead the invention will be refined , added to to , and developed untilll it does have a practical use. most people however can see its future potential and can appreciate that.

[dervheid @ May 22nd 2008 9:24AM]

sinjinn
"O-kay.
But just how much of a load can it carry? Is it any REAL USE, or just a toy / proof of concept.
If they have one that actually carries a payload, THEN I might be impressed."
You CLEARLY did not get (or perhaps did not read) my initial comment, and I find your comparison of this creation with the Wright Brothers rather odd, as their invention WAS a significant historical event (first recorded successful powered manned flight, and has led to the development of varied air transport), whereas this is NOT a significant historical event, in as much as it is unlikely to bring mass wall-climbing transport capabilities.
It will no doubt also surprise you to learn that as engineer, I do appreciate this as a "proof of concept" but that is all. In regard to the aforementioned Wrigh Brothers Flier, the potential would have been clear to all (even me!), even though the FIRST flight only lasted 36.5m, and they didn't actually get over 100m until the fourth run of the day.
as has also been pointed out, this is NOT the first device capable of climbing walls, although it may be the first one using this particular technology.
As for being low ranked, I stand by my previous statement on that subject.

[sinjinn @ May 22nd 2008 1:54PM]

injinn
"O-kay.
But just how much of a load can it carry? Is it any REAL USE, or just a toy / proof of concept.
If they have one that actually carries a payload, THEN I might be impressed."
You CLEARLY did not get (or perhaps did not read) my initial comment, and I find your comparison of this creation with the Wright Brothers rather odd, as their invention WAS a significant historical event (first recorded successful powered manned flight, and has led to the development of varied air transport), whereas this is NOT a significant historical event, in as much as it is unlikely to bring mass wall-climbing transport capabilities.
It will no doubt also surprise you to learn that as engineer, I do appreciate this as a "proof of concept" but that is all. In regard to the aforementioned Wrigh Brothers Flier, the potential would have been clear to all (even me!), even though the FIRST flight only lasted 36.5m, and they didn't actually get over 100m until the fourth run of the day.
as has also been pointed out, this is NOT the first device capable of climbing walls, although it may be the first one using this particular technology.
As for being low ranked, I stand by my previous statement on that subject


is it of any real use? that depends on what you choose to do with it. it can climb up walls therefore it can carry things up walls. the thing it carries does not even have to be heavy , it could be just a key or a card . if thier was a burning building future itterations of this thing could carry one end of a rope up the wall or a parchute, it is certainly cheaper and faster than using a helicoptor for places a ladder cant reach.

the wright brothers plane was only historical in retrospect, howver it may seemed more significant at the time than this invention does. but what you had there was a plane that left the ground and landed and didnt do much else just as here you have a robot that climbs walls and not much else.

btw , its not because you are calling this a "proof of concept" that you are being low ranked , it because you are dismissive of it. clearly a camera can be mounted with wireless technology sending pictures to a base station and it would not require much weight at all. if you cannot see that , or any of of its potential uses and dismiss it people think less of your comments.

[dervheid @ May 23rd 2008 3:22AM]

Well, it's nice to see that somone is still SO concerned about my low ranking on this. Just as well, 'cause I'm NOT.
Sinjinn, did you really have to "quote" my entire response. It is just above yours after all.
With respect to the possible uses you've mentioned, have you any concept of the weight of a substantial length of rope, or a parachute. A parachute! Escaping from a burning building with a parachute! WTF!
Look, I've already stated my position on this, as have you. Personally, I'm more than happy for you to be totally in love with this contraption. If you and it want to skip/trundle merrily off/up into the sunset and raise a whole family of little rugrats/wallrats than I wish you both all the luck in the world. Be happy!

[foyleman @ May 21st 2008 7:27AM]

Was that video in real time or sped up?

[Dave @ May 21st 2008 7:34AM]

Drat! Time to make my secret lair's walls in the shape of an inverted cone.

[intel352 @ May 21st 2008 8:03AM]

That has me wondering if it can transition walls, such as going from the one it was one, to the one to it's left. I'll bet not, looking at it's structure, seems pretty limited in it's ability.

[intel352 @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM]

and btw, "climbling"? :-)

[intel352 @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM]

maybe it's nimbly climbing!

[keh @ May 21st 2008 8:04AM]

Where are Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons in that picture?

(yup, I'm that old)

[Ras Thavas @ May 21st 2008 8:18AM]

I'm with you keh, I get the reference :-)

[sinjinn @ May 21st 2008 10:27AM]

i remember that film, it was scary

[happy_penguin @ May 21st 2008 10:37AM]

HA! The first thing I thought was "this thing looks like one of Dr Luther's evil contraptions".


...nobody but us old people. :D

[carl keller @ May 21st 2008 8:20AM]

Would somebody please attach a paint roller to this thing. I get such a crick in my neck trying to paint up that high.........

[John McDole @ May 21st 2008 8:31AM]

Or needles that shoot acid...

did I just date myself?

[Scott Culp @ May 21st 2008 8:37AM]

OMG, Fahrenheit 451!!

My first text adventure on C64, LOVED IT!!

[John McDole @ May 21st 2008 8:50AM]

lol! I was actually thinking Michael Crichton's 1984 "Runaway" with Tom Selleck!

Wall climbing, 6 legged robot spiders with needles that shoot acid :)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088024/

[crashoverride @ May 21st 2008 8:55AM]

I was so thinking of Runaway with Tom Selleck or Stargate SG1. That's a bit too creepy. Why would we want to help Skynet take over!?!?

[happy_penguin @ May 21st 2008 10:39AM]

Yup. SG1 is another good reference. :D

[Galley @ May 21st 2008 8:56AM]

It would be nice if it cleaned the window while it was up there.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 21st 2008 9:24AM]

All they did was to rotate the video 90 degrees, just like they did in the early Batman TV series. That makes it appear as though it's climbing when it's just crawling on the floor. Lame.

[swingin' dick hero @ May 21st 2008 9:52AM]

you are lame.

[ddub @ May 21st 2008 1:07PM]

-1 not only for your lame comment but for your lame avatar

[Kamigoroshi @ May 21st 2008 10:24AM]

Can someone say Replicators from SG1?

[Scot @ May 21st 2008 10:40AM]

It's amazing to see what double-sided tape can do these days!

[Fray @ May 21st 2008 11:22AM]

I for one welcome our gravity-defying robotic overlords.

Clean ceilings and subjugation for all.