Problem:
Humans are not able to climb vertical surfaces easily.
Biomimicry Idea:
Mimic a caterpillars feet to be able to climb different slippery surfaces.
How do the caterpillars climb trees?
Caterpillars have two types of legs. The first are called thoracic legs which help the caterpillar grasp its food. The other type of legs are called prolegs. These legs help the caterpillar climb vertical surfaces because they have small hooks on them.
(Source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/anatomy/Caterpillar.shtml)
How is this related to biomimicry?
Ice climbing shoes allow a person to climb vertically. This equipment mimics how caterpillars use the hooks on the bottom of their feet to climb trees.
Another part of ice climbing gear that mimics how caterpillars are able to climb trees are ice climbing pics.
These pics allow a person to be able to have a grip on the slippery ice.
Looking at the legs of a caterpillar you can see how the ice picks mimic their structure.
A way to improve the design of the ice picks and make them more like a caterpillar leg would be to add more long hooked spikes. Here is an idea of what that would look like: notice the long hooks
By increasing the number of spikes and making them longer the ice pick will have a better grip on the ice.
Video of Forest Tent Caterpillars:
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-a5Irak-S4)
Interesting Facts about this insect:
Where to they live?
Forest Tent Caterpillars (Malacosoma disstria) live in trees . You can see them by looking up and seeing a silky tent that they build.
(Source: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/trees/forest_tent_caterpillar.htm)
What do they eat?
These caterpillars eat the leaves off the trees in the area.
What does the Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth look like?
