Grip-Happy Compliant Electroadhesion Sneaking Into Everyday Usage

More than two years ago SRI International was marching robots up walls using little more than static electricity. Today, they’ve moved onto bigger and better things, like gripping a banana using the same technique. Meet “compliant electroadhesion.”

As was the case back in 2008, electroadhesion still requires very little power to function. According to SRI, one square metre of electroadhesive material will support about 200kg using 40mW.

SRI envisions “sticky” walls and other everyday uses for electroadhesive materials. Bananas, tissue boxes and soda cans—all can be equally gripped with ease by the power of static electricity and a bit of a current. [SRI International via technabob]