Scientists transform dead spiders into 'necrobots' that can serve as mechanical grippers

Arachnophobes look away now; engineers have found a way to turn dead spiders into mechanical gripping robots straight out of your nightmares. Researchers from Rice University in Texas pumped wolf spider cadavers with air to get their legs to unfurl and clasp around objects. They discovered that the arachnids were able to lift 130 per cent of their own body weight, and could manipulate a circuit board. It is hoped the delicate gripper could be used in microelectronics, or that its natural camouflage could be helpful if capturing small insects for study. Daniel Preston, assistant professor in mechanical engineering, said: 'It happens to be the case that the spider, after it's deceased, is the perfect architecture for small scale, naturally derived grippers.