Move over Jesus: Engineer Builds Robot That Walks on Water

[ScoobMaster]

PITTSBURGH (AP) - It could be called a mechanical miracle - a robot that walks on water. With inspiration from nature and some help from research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a research team led by Carnegie Mellon engineering assistant professor Metin Sitti has built a tiny robot that can walk on water, much like insects known as water skimmers, water skaters, pond skaters or Jesus bugs.

Full story here

 

[Rookie]

..my own... personal... Jesus....

*groan*

 

[MacBaine]

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

 

[bmacd]

it was Moses who parted the sea

-=bmacd=-

 

[BW86]

i want a water walking robot for christmas

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

it was the propulsion part that eluded them not the standing their part...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

LMAO.....

Ever since I learned the concept of surface tension, I've always figured that's how they work. I mean, if you look at them.. you can see the surface of the water bent around their feet..

Durr.. lol

Originally posted by: Mwilding

it was the propulsion part that eluded them not the standing their part...

Ahhh! That makes a little more sense.

That does seem like quite the conundrum. How do they propel themselves without breaking the surface tension? Those guys can really cruise, too..

Jesus Bugs.. LOL.. I like that.

We've always called them water skippers.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

I learned that back in high school science class. Where'd they dig up these "researchers"?

If they aren't breaking the surface tension then it's basically like they are standing on the floor. walking shouldn't be affected should it?

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: MacBaine

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

I learned that back in high school science class. Where'd they dig up these "researchers"?

If they aren't breaking the surface tension then it's basically like they are standing on the floor. walking shouldn't be affected should it?

thats the problem. Should it?? obviously they figured it out.

MIKE

 

[bradruth]

Jesus just got SERVED!

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: MacBaine

researchers didn't really know how water skimmers actually walked on water until last year.

???

The bugs support themselves on water because they're not heavy enough to break the surface tension of water, like a needle that floats.

It took them this long to figure that out? Come on guys...

I learned that back in high school science class. Where'd they dig up these "researchers"?

If they aren't breaking the surface tension then it's basically like they are standing on the floor. walking shouldn't be affected should it?

I guess it depends what the coefficient of friction for the surface of water. If it's very low, that bug isn't going anywhere very fast.

 

[SWScorch]

if you read the article, they weren't confused by how the stayed afloat, but how they propeled themselves. It was thought that they created wave to push them forward, but it is now known that they depress the water underneath their feet, and then the water "bounces" back and propels them forward.

 

[Kyteland]

Pics of said robot