Scientists teach spider to jump with hope of building new robots

For the first time, scientists have trained a spider to jump different distances and heights. The feat was achieved in a new study by a group of researchers at the University of Manchester seeking to learn about the regal jumping spider’s anatomy and behaviour.

The scientists hope their work, published in the journal Scientific Reports on Tuesday, could pave the way for the development of new robotics technology currently beyond the limits of engineering.

Spiders have a remarkable jumping ability and can jump up to six times the length of their bodies from a standing start. In comparison, humans can only jump around one and a half times their body lengths.

“The force on the legs at take-off can be up to five times the weight of the spider – this is amazing and if we can understand these biomechanics we can apply them to other areas of research,” lead author Dr Mostafa Nabawy, from the University of Manchester, explained in a statement.

Researchers trained a regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius), which they nicknamed Kim, to jump various distances and heights on manmade platforms in the lab. Using high-speed, high-resolution cameras and 3D CT scanning, the team recorded, monitored and analysed the spider’s movement and behaviour.

Spiders and insects jump in several ways – they can use internal fluid pressure, a spring-like mechanism or direct muscle forces, according to researchers. Although spiders are known extend their legs using internal hydraulic pressure, scientists were unsure whether this played a role when jumping.

3D models of Kim’s body structure and legs showed that these spiders employ distinct jumping strategies based on the type of challenge they are facing.

For shorter distances, the spider “favoured a faster, lower trajectory which uses up more energy, but minimises flight time,” according to a University of Manchester press release. This strategy improves accuracy and allows spiders to more effectively catch their prey. For longer or higher distances, on the other hand, the spider maximised efficiency and used less energy. Scientists said this type of jumping would be used to cross rough terrain.

“Our results suggest that whilst Kim can move her legs hydraulically, she does not need the additional power from hydraulics to achieve her extraordinary jumping performance,” study co-author Dr Bill Crowther, from the University of Manchester, said in a statement. “Thus, the role of hydraulic movement in spiders remains an open question.”

Although the study was not able to solve this problem, the researchers said they hoped future research would provide some answers.

If scientists are able to better understand the spider’s jumping physics and then replicate these mechanisms “in a flying or jumping robot, it could help solve a lot of biomechanical constraints keeping most robots on the ground,” reports Popular Science, noting that this could “lead to a new era of microrobots.”

The development of such robots could improve pest control efforts, Dr Nabawy told The Telegraph. “Instead of using pesticides you could have an army of robotic spiders capable of targeting bugs,” he said.