Nature Truly Is Our Best Teacher, As Scientists Study Spiders To Learn How To Make Robots Jump

Jumping spiders may be creepy as heck, but there¡¯s no doubting the fact that they¡¯re one of Nature¡¯s bioengineering miracles. These little creepy-crawlies can leap up to six times their body length from a complete standstill.

Now, researchers want to take this amazing ability and give it to robots.

A team at the University of Manchester are using a combination of CT scans and high-speed cameras to analyze how a jumping spider moves, in order to apply the functionality to robots. Kim, as their spider specimen is affectionately named, is captured jumping in slow motion, which the researchers then use to produce a 3D model of her body and leg structure in the process.

For a long time, it¡¯s been known that spiders use hydraulic pressure to jump. However, the Manchester team has now realised that they don¡¯t necessarily need that power at all. In addition, the way a spider stands and leaps depends on how far it has to travel, and what it¡¯s doing. For instance, it might make a short hop to focus on speed while catching prey, or might prefer a longer or higher leap in order to conserve energy while simply relocating.

There are still plenty of variables to consider, and a lot of things the scientists don¡¯t know for sure yet. However, it¡¯s reaffirmed their position that robots shouldn¡¯t always take after dogs or humans in their design; sometimes functionality can come from the things that terrify us too.

Once again, nature never ceases to inspire the best among us. May our scientists learn nature's secrets and use it for the betterment of all lifeforms on earth -- not just human.