Octopus-Inspired Adhesives with Switchable Attachment to Challenging Underwater Surfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomimetics and Materials Science
• Adhesion Science
• Robotics and Underwater Engineering

Background:

• Adhesives for wet/underwater environments are vital for healthcare, robotics, and infrastructure.
• Challenges include achieving strong attachment and controlled release on curved, rough, or submerged surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an octopus-inspired adhesive with superior underwater attachment and rapid release capabilities.
• To address the limitations of current adhesives on difficult substrates in diverse fluid environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a compliant, curved stalk and an active deformable membrane inspired by octopus infundibulum.
• Engineered the stalk's curvature to enhance conformal contact and increase contact stress for adaptability.
• Investigated synergistic mechanisms for multi-scale surface contact and adhesion switching.

Main Results:

• Achieved a switching ratio exceeding 1000 within approximately 30 milliseconds.
• Demonstrated consistent attachment strength over 60 kPa on diverse underwater surfaces.
• Successfully attached to and manipulated rough underwater objects with precision.

Conclusions:

• The octopus-inspired adhesive offers robust underwater adhesion and rapid, controlled release.
• The biomimetic design effectively overcomes challenges posed by curved, rough, and wet surfaces.
• This technology has significant potential for underwater robotics, healthcare, and infrastructure repair.