This gecko-adhesive enabled robot can climb surfaces in any gravitational orientation or operate in full zero gravity. It is a prototype for inspection applications aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The prototype robot uses oppositional pairs of gecko adhesive pads that turn the van der Waals adhesion ON and OFF using an applied shear load. The robot is teleoperated and utilizes an inchworm-style gait.

The robot can turn in a tight circle, fits within a 1.5-inch gap, and can transition between orthogonal surfaces.

The gecko adhesives leave no residue, are highly reusable, and create strong adhesion across a wide temperature range and in a vacuum. Initial experiments involved climbing vertical walls in Earth's gravity.