ELECTROADHESION
Ron is a principal inventor of electro adhesion technology, based on a novel clamping technology called compliant electro adhesion.
As the name implies, electroadhesion is an electrically controllable adhesion technology involving the induction of electrostatic charges on a wall substrate using a power supply connected to compliant (versus ordinary electrostatic clamping) pads situated on the moving robot.
Unlike conventional adhesives or dry adhesives, electroadhesion can be modulated or turned off for mobility or cleaning. The technology uses an exceedingly small amount of power and shows the ability to repeatably clamp to wall substrates that are heavily covered in dust or other debris.
Ron developed one of the first electrostatic wall climbing robots to demonstrate the technology; since then, SRI International, Harvard, and others have demonstrated a variety of wall climbing robots including tracked and legged robots.
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGIES*
ADHESIVE TYPE
| CHEMICAL | ELECTROADHESION | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADVANTAGES | Strong bond; can be used on multiple surfaces | High Force Capability |
Non damaging; no residue |
High Force Capability; low cost |
High Force Capability; can be manipulated | Repeated use; works on rough and smooth surfaces; space age materials |
| DISADVANTAGES | Can’t be reused | Only works on ferromagnetic surfaces | Poor performance on rough surfaces | Poor performance on rough surfaces; can’t create suction in space | Typically, specific for discrete bodies or applications | Relatively lower adhesion force; dependent on surface contact area |
*Source: Data Driven Investor, Muhammad Bilal Khalid, Dec. 28, 2018
Ron is a principal inventor of electro adhesion technology, based on a novel clamping technology called compliant electro adhesion.
As the name implies, electroadhesion is an electrically controllable adhesion technology involving the induction of electrostatic charges on a wall substrate using a power supply connected to compliant (versus ordinary electrostatic clamping) pads situated on the moving robot.
Unlike conventional adhesives or dry adhesives, electroadhesion can be modulated or turned off for mobility or cleaning. The technology uses an exceedingly small amount of power and shows the ability to repeatably clamp to wall substrates that are heavily covered in dust or other debris.
Ron developed one of the first electrostatic wall climbing robots to demonstrate the technology; since then, SRI International, Harvard, and others have demonstrated a variety of wall climbing robots including tracked and legged robots.
COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT ADHESIVE TECHNOLOGIES*
ADHESIVE TYPE
| CHEMICAL | Strong bond; can be used on multiple surfaces | Can’t be reused |
| MAGNETIC | High Force Capability | Only works on ferromagnetic surfaces |
| SYNTHETIC GECKO FEET |
Non damaging; no residue |
Poor performance on rough surfaces |
| SUCTION |
High Force Capability; low cost |
Poor performance on rough surfaces; can’t create suction in space |
| MECHANICAL GRIPPER | High Force Capability; can be manipulated | Typically, specific for discrete bodies or applications |
| ELECTROADHESION | Repeated use; works on rough and smooth surfaces; space age materials | Relatively lower adhesion force; dependent on surface contact area |
| CHEMICAL | Strong bond; can be used on multiple surfaces | Can’t be reused |
| MAGNETIC | High Force Capability | Only works on ferromagnetic surfaces |
| SYNTHETIC GECKO FEET |
Non damaging; no residue |
Poor performance on rough surfaces |
| SUCTION |
High Force Capability; low cost |
Poor performance on rough surfaces; can’t create suction in space |
| MECHANICAL GRIPPER | High Force Capability; can be manipulated | Typically, specific for discrete bodies or applications |
|
ELECTRO ADHESION |
Repeated use; works on rough and smooth surfaces; space age materials | Relatively lower adhesion force; dependent on surface contact area |
*Source: Data Driven Investor, Muhammad Bilal Khalid, Dec. 28, 2018