Walking on the water

2003/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

Some insects can float on the water, such as those of the Gerridae family. And although for some it can be a miracle, it has a physical explanation. These insects are found on the water thanks to hundreds of hairs on the feet. But, how can there be no waves on the surface of the water when they circulate?

Any being has to create a moment to go from one side to the other, that is, to push something. Humans, for example, make strength by walking on the earth, and birds and fish create swirls to advance, one in the air and one in the water.

The insects of the Gerridae family use as rowing the two longer legs to walk on the water. And, as the researchers of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of Cambridge have seen, the water trailers do not surface, but appear under water at a depth of four millimetres.

From this movement, Robostrider is a Gerridae robot that, despite being bigger and clumsy than the real, is able to walk on the water.