Researchers train spider to jump on command

Are you afraid of spiders? How about TRAINED spiders? I am fascinated by all non-human creatures, and spiders are no exception. I have at least 3 living with me at any given time, and provide them with food and entertainment. They are quiet, easy to care for, and only bite me once or twice a week. I had no idea that they could be trained, though. I suspect that my house spiders are dim-witted compared to the spiders living in scientific laboratories!
UPI Source Article

For the first time, scientists have trained a spider to jump at different distances and different heights. The feat allowed scientists to study the spider's jumping abilities and behavior at great detail using high-speed, high-resolution cameras. The observations could help scientists understand why jumping spiders evolved as they did and inspire a new generation of high-performance micro-robots.

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"The focus of the present work is on the extraordinary jumping capability of these spiders," Mostafa Nabawy, a researcher at the University of Manchester in England, said in a news release. "A jumping spider can leap up to six times its body length from a standing start."

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"The force on the legs at take-off can be up to 5 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," Nabawy said. Scientists nicknamed the trained spider, a regal jumping spider, Kim. The high-speed, hi-res videos of Kim revealed the jumping spider's anatomy and mechanics in unprecedented detail. Scientists found the species, Phidippus regius, uses different jumping strategies depending on the type of jump.

Please read the article to learn more about Kim and the mechanism (muscles and hydraulics?) that the spider uses to jump.

a reply to: seattlerat




Uhhh, spooky. Creepy.

No thanks.

Really, they trained a spider to jump on command. It is the opposite with the wife and daughter.

a reply to: seattlerat

That is a very fascinating subject! The part that peeked my interest was the use of silk as possible stabilizing mechanism. I still don’t like those little creepy crawlers though.

whatever NEXT...

a reply to: Darklyilluminated

Imma give him a star cause you are mean......Bully

a reply to: seattlerat

I liked the jumping attack spider. Don't really see the need for the robot except maybe as a proof of concept. If they want the robot, just build a larger one to see what's needed and then miniaturize it.

But the attack spider, I can see training about a million of them and unleashing them on our enemies. Like something out of a horror movie.

Love jumping spiders! I have a few that live in my office and they keep it free of other bugs. I had no idea they could be TRAINED! I'm going to have to have a chat with them about this!

youtu.be...

a reply to: seattlerat

The title is not really accurate. I expected to get to know "the command" or whatever they deem it but no...

On the other hand, been there, done that, got the shirt:
google:
Fluidic Muscle DMSP/MAS

It was my first avatar here when I joined 2011.

Also google:
festo bionic learning network

a reply to: seattlerat

Spider commands researchers to jump on train.

^^^ That would be a heck of a story.

I don't know about you but...

I tried to click on the vids, I really did, but I can't. Reading about it is one thing, but seeing it...

originally posted by: Allaroundyou
a reply to: seattlerat

That is a very fascinating subject! The part that peeked my interest was the use of silk as possible stabilizing mechanism. I still don’t like those little creepy crawlers though.

If you've spent the best part of a day climbing to the top of a second floor roof, the last thing you want is a gust of wind knocking you off and back onto the lawn. So those little spider take their health-and-safety seriously.

In other news: Government teaches clowns to shamble out of the woods.