US technology breakthrough brings Spider-Man a step closer to reality

Aspiring superheroes may soon be able to climb like Spider-Man. Scientists working with the US military have developed a material that enables a human to scale a vertical glass wall.

The researchers, inspired by the sticky toes of geckos, created hand-sized silicone pads covered with tiny ridges that are capable of adhering to smooth surfaces. They then built a harness with each hand pad supporting the weight of a foot rest, to which it is connected by a pole.

The pads feature rows of microscopic slanting wedges that temporarily bond to the surface of the glass when weight is applied.

Previous attempts to copy gecko feet failed but scientists at Stanford University, working with the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), found a way of sharing the load between 24 postage-stamp sized tiles on each pad. This allowed researcher Elliot Hawkes, a biomimetics student at Stanford, who weighs 70kg, to climb a 3.5-metre vertical glass wall.

They now hope to develop the technology to allow climbers to move faster and more smoothly. It could eventually lead to gloves similar to those used by Tom Cruise's character in the film Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol to climb up the outside of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Professor Mark Cutkosky, a biomimetic engineer at Stanford University who led the research, said of past efforts: "Unfortunately 'spider suits' ignore some basic ergonomic issues. People have much greater strength in their legs than in their arms. Therefore we think one needs a system where the hands are used to gently attach and detach the adhesive tiles. A system of cables and links transfers the load to the feet."