Just when you thought the idea of walking on water is confined to just the animal world (specifically the basilisk), the NanoRobotics team at Carnegie Mellon University are working on a robot that mimics that reptile. The amphibious potential of a water-walking robot could mean an efficiency boost when compared to a boat since it would experience a dramatic reduction in viscous drag. While several designs are being tested at the moment, researchers are still trying to find the right prototype. Dubbed the Water Runner Robot, it would be interesting to see how this pans out in the long run to help boats be more efficient.
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