Jumping on water: Surface tension-dominated jumping of water striders and robotic insects

Je Sung Koh; Eunjin Yang; Gwang Pil Jung; Sun Pill Jung; Jae Hak Son; Sang Im Lee; Piotr G. Jablonski; Robert J. Wood; Ho Young Kim; Kyu Jin Cho

doi:10.1126/science.aab1637

Jumping on water: Surface tension-dominated jumping of water striders and robotic insects

Je Sung Koh, Eunjin Yang, Gwang Pil Jung, Sun Pill Jung, Jae Hak Son, Sang Im Lee, Piotr G. Jablonski, Robert J. Wood, Ho Young Kim, Kyu Jin Cho

Department of New Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

314 Scopus citations

Abstract

Jumping on water is a unique locomotion mode found in semi-aquatic arthropods, such as water striders. To reproduce this feat in a surface tension-dominant jumping robot, we elucidated the hydrodynamics involved and applied them to develop a bio-inspired impulsive mechanism that maximizes momentum transfer to water. We found that water striders rotate the curved tips of their legs inward at a relatively low descending velocity with a force just below that required to break the water surface (144 millinewtons/meter). We built a 68-milligram at-scale jumping robotic insect and verified that it jumps on water with maximum momentum transfer. The results suggest an understanding of the hydrodynamic phenomena used by semi-aquatic arthropods during water jumping and prescribe a method for reproducing these capabilities in artificial systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	517-521
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	349
Issue number	6247
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab1637
State	Published - 31 Jul 2015

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abstract = "Jumping on water is a unique locomotion mode found in semi-aquatic arthropods, such as water striders. To reproduce this feat in a surface tension-dominant jumping robot, we elucidated the hydrodynamics involved and applied them to develop a bio-inspired impulsive mechanism that maximizes momentum transfer to water. We found that water striders rotate the curved tips of their legs inward at a relatively low descending velocity with a force just below that required to break the water surface (144 millinewtons/meter). We built a 68-milligram at-scale jumping robotic insect and verified that it jumps on water with maximum momentum transfer. The results suggest an understanding of the hydrodynamic phenomena used by semi-aquatic arthropods during water jumping and prescribe a method for reproducing these capabilities in artificial systems.",

author = "Koh, {Je Sung} and Eunjin Yang and Jung, {Gwang Pil} and Jung, {Sun Pill} and Son, {Jae Hak} and Lee, {Sang Im} and Jablonski, {Piotr G.} and Wood, {Robert J.} and Kim, {Ho Young} and Cho, {Kyu Jin}",

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AU - Koh, Je Sung

AU - Yang, Eunjin

AU - Jung, Gwang Pil

AU - Jung, Sun Pill

AU - Son, Jae Hak

AU - Lee, Sang Im

AU - Jablonski, Piotr G.

AU - Wood, Robert J.

AU - Kim, Ho Young

AU - Cho, Kyu Jin

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Jumping on water: Surface tension-dominated jumping of water striders and robotic insects

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