What a time to be alive.
Scientists at Houston, Texas-based Rice University have discovered a way to turn dead wolf spiders into “necrobotic” scavengers.
Yes, you read that right.
Unlike humans, spiders move their limbs through antagonistic muscles driven by a single flexor muscle and a hydraulic system in the center of the insect’s body that pushes fluid to open its legs. Interestingly, this is why spiders curl up when they die, as there is no pressure on their leg flexor muscles, according to The Verge.
The Rice University team was able to find a way to power this hydraulic system by forcing air through the dead spider’s body via a syringe to open and close its legs, similar to a claw machine.
Below is a video of the science fiction-sounding technology in action.
The spider’s gripper can open and close 1,000 times and can lift roughly 130 percent of its body weight, according to the Rice University team. The team behind the project says that more than just wolf spiders can be manipulated with “necrobotics,” but that so far, at least, it’s mostly been experimenting with this specific type of arachnid.
It’s unclear what this technology might be used for in the future, but it’s undeniably fascinating.
Source: Rice University Via: The Verge
Add Comment