As a student of general sciences back in school, I kept the concept of surface tension to the text, only to realize this day the boon this little concept of physics could prove to be. How about boats and robots moving on water without the use of engines and sails? Sounds awkward, though we have minds at work that have designed a technology to affirm the aforementioned for the near future.
Taking surface tension of water as source for research, a team from the University of Pittsburgh has developed this technology based on the propelling skills of the insects that float on water. The technology is backed by a propulsion system using the water’s surface tension and electric pulse stimulation to move the boat or the robot. Successfully experiments have been carried out to exhibit the technology’s effectiveness, wherein the electric pulse to move the object has been generated by electrodes of minimal efficiency running on alternative sources of power.
Via: NetWorkWorld
