SRI International (Menlo Park, CA) garnered U.S. Patent 7,773,363 for electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. The technology will allow robots and soldiers to climb walls.
When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off, according to Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Joseph S. Eckerle. Roy D. Kornbluh ad Scott Stanford
Controlled adhesion remains an unmet technological need. For example, for over twenty years the robotics field has tried to invent a reliable form of controlled adhesion on a wide range of substrates for wall crawling robots, without success. Success in controlled adhesion can be defined by a technology that is: controllable, reliable, and robust enough to work on a sufficient range of everyday wall and natural materials, and those encountered under real environmental conditions, such as wet or dusty surfaces, highly sloped surfaces, or slippery surfaces.
The existing technologies, many of which are still in the lab and not in commercial production, marked for wall crawling fail to provide the full range of these capabilities. Chemical adhesives are always "on." While they require no energy to perch, robots that employ chemical adhesive clamping technologies require a lot of energy to climb and traverse horizontally (requiring more batteries and weight), fighting the adhesion which cannot be switched off. Chemical adhesive technologies can also attract dust and other debris that quickly reduce their effectiveness. Suction (active or passive) works effectively only on smooth surfaces. Also, conventional suction cups suffer from leaks and cannot manage dusty surfaces. Mechanical claws only work on very rough or penetrable surfaces and often leave damaging marks. Synthetic gecko-like skin can become easily damaged or befouled after repeated use (as few as five cycles), and does not work on wet surfaces.
Controlled adhesion is also useful outside of robotics. Robust devices and methods to provide adhesion would be beneficial.
The existing technologies, many of which are still in the lab and not in commercial production, marked for wall crawling fail to provide the full range of these capabilities. Chemical adhesives are always "on." While they require no energy to perch, robots that employ chemical adhesive clamping technologies require a lot of energy to climb and traverse horizontally (requiring more batteries and weight), fighting the adhesion which cannot be switched off. Chemical adhesive technologies can also attract dust and other debris that quickly reduce their effectiveness. Suction (active or passive) works effectively only on smooth surfaces. Also, conventional suction cups suffer from leaks and cannot manage dusty surfaces. Mechanical claws only work on very rough or penetrable surfaces and often leave damaging marks. Synthetic gecko-like skin can become easily damaged or befouled after repeated use (as few as five cycles), and does not work on wet surfaces.
Controlled adhesion is also useful outside of robotics. Robust devices and methods to provide adhesion would be beneficial.
The SRI International invention provides electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object.
This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off. The present invention provides electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces.
When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.
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