This Tiny Robot Can Pull 2000 Times Its Weight

Image Credit: Karen Ladenheim via Biomimetics and Dexterous Manipulation Lab, Stanford University

Stanford’s µTug robot doesn’t look like much, but the quarter-sized machine could put you to shame at the gym.

Using adhesives inspired by geckos and ants, this little ‘bot can pull up to 2000 times its weight. The 12-gram MicroTug developed by Stanford’s Biomimetics and Dexterous Manipulation Lab weighs less than a third of a bar of Hershey’s chocolate, but can drag a full cup of coffee across a desk. 

Just watch: 

Finally, a pocket-sized automaton that can clean your desk for you!

[h/t: Digg]