抄録
This paper describes biomimetic water strider robots with microfabricated hydrophobic legs. Various kinds of supporting legs with hydrophobic microstructures on their surfaces were developed using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) techniques. Lift force of the legs were investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The experimental results are in good agreement with the calculations. Furthermore, two different mechanisms for autonomous water strider robots have been developed. The robot with twelve microfabricated legs driven by a vibration motor successfully moved on water surface and also made left/right turns utilizing difference of resonant frequencies of the legs. The other robot with six microstructured legs also successfully moved on water by creating elliptical motions of the middle legs, which is similar to the motions of water strider's legs.
