Learn more about vacuum suction cup lifting technology.

　　Due to the convention that suction cups are often designed for specific workpiece requirements, they are mostly suitable for flat and smooth surfaces, resulting in a limited variety of compatible workpiece shapes. To meet the clamping needs of various workpieces, scholars both domestically and internationally have researched biomimetic suction cups inspired by marine soft-bodied organisms. They analyzed the characteristics of octopus suckers and pointed out that the manufactured artificial suckers must satisfy three functions.

　　Artificial suction cups must satisfy three functions: they have a funnel-shaped structure that provides surface sealing to adapt to any geometric surface; they possess a structure that can generate the negative pressure required for adhesion; and external muscles allow the adhered surface to rotate freely with the robotic arm. Zhou Likun and others used biomimetic principles and vacuum adsorption principles, based on three models of biomimetic concave funnel suction cup structures.

　　Combining the characteristics of the parallel or aligned arrangement of octopus suckers, mechanical analysis found that the tread suction cup pattern can effectively adhere to ice surfaces, ensuring sufficient adhesive force and improving the vehicle's anti-slip capability on ice. However, due to the large number and dense arrangement of muscle structures in octopus suckers, along with their three-dimensional structural features, artificial processing is quite challenging.

　　American scientists used composite material 3D printing technology to create samples of artificial suction cups, each only the size of a fingernail (Figure 4), and conducted adhesion experiments on land using such suction cups. The scientists predict that the performance of these suction cups may further improve when used underwater, as water pressure can provide greater force.