科学家开发出新的水上微型机械装置用于模拟水黾出色的水上行走能力，这一长腿昆虫能在池塘、湖泊和其它水渠的水面上快速行走。仿生微型机械装置比早期同类装置改进了许多，并定位于成为军事侦察任务、水质污染监测和其它应用的最佳选择。
在水面能自由“行走”的仿生微型装置
相关的研究结果发表在ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 期刊上。
水面行走是人类的梦想，但它却是一些水生昆虫的生活方式，如水黾、蚊子和水蜘蛛，很大程度上归因于疏水性极强的腿。依据水黾的浮游行为，其他科学家开发出微型水上装置。在配备摄像头后，这些仿生机械装置在监测水源供应、军事侦察任务和执行其它任务方面被寄予厚望。但是，截止到目前为止，没有人想到一种方法让“水上行走机械装置”走向实用化、灵活化和廉价化的轨道。
科学家描述了这个新机械装置，2个微型电机驱动10个疏水性的线状腿和2个移动性的浆状腿在水面上移动。他们指出，微型机械装置的重量是水黾的大约390倍，人们会认为一旦被放置在水面上，它会立即下沉。事实上，它能够毫不费力地停留在水面上，并能自由地行走和转弯。
作者的经费来自于中国自然科学基金（Technology and Natural Science Foundation of China）。（生物探索译 Pobee）
动态视频网址：https://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0710-robot_walks_on_water.htm
生物探索推荐英文原文
Bionic Microrobot Mimics the 'Water Strider' and Walks On Water
Scientists are reporting development of a new aquatic microrobot that mimics the amazing water-walking abilities of the water strider -- the long-legged insect that scoots across the surface of ponds, lakes and other waterways. The bionic microrobot incorporates improvements over previous devices of this kind that position it as a prime candidate for military spy missions, water pollution monitoring, and other applications, the scientists say.
Their study appears in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
"Walking on the water surface is a dream of humans, but it is exactly the way of life for some aquatic insects," Qinmin Pan and colleagues note, citing water striders, mosquitoes, and water spiders. This is due largely to their highly water-repellent (superhydrophobic) legs. Other scientists have made tiny aquatic devices based on the water strider with the hope of developing bionic robots that can monitor water supplies, conduct military spy missions when equipped with a camera, and perform other tasks. But until now, no one has found a way to make water-walking robots that are practical, agile, and inexpensive.
The scientists describe progress on a new robot, with a body about the size of a quarter; ten water-repellent, wire legs; and two movable, oar-like legs -- propelled by two miniature motors. "Because the weight of the microrobot is equal to that of about 390 water striders, one might expect that it will sink quickly when placed on the water surface," the report noted. However, it stands effortlessly on water surfaces and also walks and turns freely.
The authors acknowledged funding from Harbin Institute of Technology and Natural Science Foundation of China.
