Miniature Boat Powered by Surface Tension

Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a miniature boat that propels itself across water with no moving parts using nothing but a disruption of the surface tension.

Inspired by how beetle larvae move across the water, the boat uses a similar process for its own propulsion without paddles, sails or motors. With the surface tension of water pulling a floating object equally on all sides, an electric pulse disrupts the surface tension to the rear with the remaining surface tension pulling the boat in the opposite direction. Pyrrhalta beetle larvae accomplish the same by arching their back downward as they rest on top of the water.

Experiments moved a 2-cm "mini-boat" across the water's surface at approximately 4 mm per second, with a second electrode mounted at the rear acting as a rudder. This method of propulsion provides an efficient and low-maintenance method for small automated tools and robots that monitor water quality in reservoirs and other bodies of water. The craft can be powered either by on-board batteries or solar power.

These results were presented on January 26th at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' 2009 Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) conference in Sorrento, Italy.

Source: ScienceDaily