Scientists have trained a spider to jump on demand in a bid to unlock the secrets behind how the arachnids hunt.
The female spider, nicknamed ‘Kim’, was taught to leap different heights and distances by researchers who carried her across each jump several times until she became comfortable with the challenge.
By recording her acrobatics with high-speed cameras researchers learned that the species uses different jumping strategies depending on the challenge ahead.
The team hope to use their findings to create a new class of agile micro-robots that jump like spiders – technology that could have a range of applications.
These robot arachnids could be used in a variety of tasks in complex engineering and manufacturing, researchers said.
Scientists have trained a spider to jump on demand in a bid to unlock the secrets behind how the arachnids hunt. A jumping spider they nicknamed ‘Kim’ (pictured) was taught to jump different heights and distances while experts recorded its movements
The researchers, from the University of Manchester, said their work could help scientists understand why jumping spider anatomy and behaviour evolved the way it did.
Dr Mostafa Nabawy, lead author of the study, said: ‘The focus of the present work is on the extraordinary jumping capability of these spiders.
‘A jumping spider can leap up to six times its body length from a standing start. The best a human can achieve is about 1.5 body lengths.
‘The force on the legs at take-off can be up to five 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.’
Dr Nabawy said micro-robots modelled after jumping spiders could be used for a variety of different purposes in complex engineering and manufacturing.
He added the robot arachnids could be deployed ‘in unknown environments to execute different missions’.
Researchers learned that the species uses different jumping strategies depending on the challenge it is presented with. Pictured are some of the heights and distances of jump that the scientists taught Kim to attempt
The results showed the regal jumping spider switches up its strategy to master smaller and larger jumps. For example, to jump shorter, close-range distances Kim favoured a faster, lower trajectory which uses up more energy, but minimises flight time
Kim belongs to a species of jumping arachnid known as Phidippus regius, or ‘Regal Jumping Spider’.
The team recorded jumps and used high resolution CT scans to create a 3D model of the spider’s legs and body
Scientists bought four of the spiders from a pet shop in Manchester for the research – but Kim was the only one who ‘showed any inclination to jump as required’.
She was trained to leap on demand from different heights and distances while her leaps were recorded with high-speed cameras.
Researchers said they did not use bait or prey to tempt Kim to scale the jumps, but instead transported the spider between take-off and landing platforms several times.
Once she became familiar with the challenge the spider leapt each time she was presented with the jump.
The team recorded her taking on jumps using ultra-high-speed cameras, and used high resolution CT scans to create a 3D model of the spider’s legs and body.
The results showed the Regal Jumping Spider switches up its strategy to master smaller and larger jumps.
For example, to jump shorter, close-range distances Kim favoured a faster, lower trajectory which uses up more energy, but minimises flight time.
This made the jump more accurate and more effective for capturing its prey.
Insects and spiders jump in a number of different ways, either using a spring like mechanism, direct muscle forces or using internal fluid pressure. Pictured is the high-speed camera setup used by the scientists
If Kim was jumping a longer distance or to an elevated platform, perhaps to traverse rough terrain, she jumped in the most efficient way to keep energy use low.
Insects and spiders jump in a number of different ways, either using a spring like mechanism, direct muscle forces or using internal fluid pressure.
Scientists have known for more than 50 years that spiders use internal hydraulic pressure to extend their legs.
What isn’t known is if this hydraulic pressure is actively used to enhance or replace muscle force when the spiders jump.
Dr Bill Crowther, co-author of the study, said: ‘Our results suggest that whilst Kim can move her legs hydraulically, she does not need the additional power from hydraulics to achieve her extraordinary jumping performance.
‘Thus, the role of hydraulic movement in spiders remains an open question.’