Spider trained to jump on demand
 

A spider has been trained to jump on demand by scientists. Kim is a Phidippus regius, also known as a regal jumping spider, who can jump six times her own body length.

In comparison, the best a human can achieve is about 1.5 body lengths. At take-off, the force on the spider’s legs is equivalent to five times the creature’s body weight. The University of Manchester study could help engineers design agile mini-robots that are currently beyond human technology. Lead scientist Dr Mostafa Nabawy said: ‘This is amazing and if we can understand these biomechanics we can apply them to other areas of research.’

Dr Nabawy’s team trained Kim to jump different heights and distances on a man-made laboratory platform. Her jumps were recorded using ultra-high-speed cameras. The scientists also took micro CT scans of the spider to create a 3D virtual model of her legs and body structure.

The results, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, show that Kim used different jumping strategies depending on the challenge she was presented with. For short distances she favoured a faster, lower trajectory which used up more energy but minimised flight time. This made the jump more accurate and effective for capturing prey. Longer distance jumps of the sort used to cross rough terrain were slower and more energy efficient.

Insects and spiders jump in a number of different ways, using a spring-like mechanisms, direct muscle forces, or internal fluid pressure. Spiders are known to use the hydraulic fluid pressure system to extend their legs, but what role this played in jumping was unknown.

http://metro.co.uk/2018/05/08/scient...emand-7530462/

Gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about it!

No no no no no no nope.

That's incredible.

I have a pet tarantula and know just how "prehistoric" spider's minds are, they have no emotion basically, like all they know is to attack for food/against threats, so to be able to do this is a great feat!

Fascinating. I wonder how long it will be before some kind of 'Kim Extract' is being used by cheating Athletes to set new World records. :laugh:

Gross

Someone stop Kim before it's too late

:joker::joker: I got her for a fiver from a closing down pet department of a garden centre about 7 years ago, she's called Deirdre!

Expected life span of 30 years so she's here for a long time. Really fascinating creatures and the easiest, stress-free pets ever. No smell, no noise, no walks, basically no interaction beside feeding!

How wonderful that a spider can be trained like this,I would love a pet tarantula ,lucky you Jonnie

I am not afraid of common or garden variety spiders Jonnii.... BUT Tarantulas? I'll pass. :laugh:

(And Kaz - you are starting to worry me. :laugh:)

I'm actually terrified of those big British house spiders, can't deal with them, but Deirdre to me just looks like a furry little "animal" rather than a spider, idk it's odd :laugh:

But what happens when you do the right thing and set it on fire? Surely it'll start jumping around and be a hazard :think:

Time to leave the planet then

@Riley (pic of Deirdre when I just got her, she's basically exactly the same now as she was pretty much fully grown when I got her!)

bye how do you let her crawl all over you

As long as I don't freak her out she's cool. Any sudden movements though and you get threatened or even fanged :laugh: Nah she usually just runs away, these are the "tamer" breeds...

Google "Baboon tarantula"... They've been known to try and attack people who like walk by their enclosures...

:laugh: That's nuts Jonnii. Give me a house spider anytime. I admire your guts in handling Deidre so coolly though. I'd run a mile. :laugh:

No thank you!

I can't even deal with the tiny spiders you find behind your telly :skull:

Me training an army to raid Rob's house.