Technology has advanced in a lot of ways. Whether they’re medical advancements, personal technological advancements, advanced paying systems, the list goes on, but now a set of gloves this is absolutely unique in every way, and mimics the behavior of a specific animal.
This time it’s a gecko that is being imitated through technology. A team of individuals from Stanford used a silicone material that is called polydimethylysiloxane. It’s layered over the small wedges that exist on the surface of the gloves, and even those are jam packed with technology to ensure that the user remains upright. As it turns out, that’s what geckos do to remain in contact with the surfaces they climb.
As the gloves stand at this moment, they only work on smooth surfaces. Rougher surfaces that are a little more agitated anyone using the gloves would have a little more difficulty staying upright. The technology is being looked at as a great tool for astronauts in space. While scientists could see some mainstream uses, the overall mission is to give astronauts the ability to cling onto space debris, specifically while working around any spacecraft.
Other groups have worked on similar technologies, like DARPA, who the team at Stanford actually worked with, have also been working to create a similar technology. The entire concept is derived around being able to move in the same fashion as a lizard does, yet the great aspect of it is that the technology isn’t overly excessive or large in size.
It’ll be interesting to see how much further or how much more this technology can be advanced before it begins being applied to more typical scenarios. Much of the technology that we original see as very advanced, or niche-style technology will often find additional uses within other technology. Some have looked at what the properties could do for personal computing, how the applications could be used for keeping things intact, or connected to a surface that would otherwise require an adhesive.
Now, scientists will have to grapple with improving this technology so it can at least be applied to scenarios in space. Ultimately, that would be where the technology would be best applied for the time being.
