Wednesday, 03 Feb 2010
A couple of guys have taken the comic book hero’s wall walking abilities to the next step. They have invented a boot that will allow a human to walk up walls or walk on ceilings. The geniuses behind this superhero technology are Paul Steen and Michael Vogel.
The technology mimics what thousands of little critters already do in nature. Large beetles use this same kind of scientific method to walk up plant stems or on the undersides of leaves.
The boots are powered with just a single 9-volt battery. The battery produces an electric field across a plate that is full of microscopic holes. The electric charge causes tiny drops of water to seep through the holes producing a suction against the surface. Once the proper stick is achieved, the user switches off the pump to avoid too much water being released and ruining the suction effect.
When the user is ready to accept the laws of gravity, they simply flip a switch which reverses the electric charge and sucks the water back in. The inventors believe the boots will support a person weighing up to 225 pounds. The boots will most likely work best on smooth glass surfaces. Brick walls may pose a problem with their uneven surface.
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