{"id":11624,"date":"2024-08-06T12:03:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T16:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/tech-today-flipping-nasa-tech-and-sticking-the-landing\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T12:03:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T16:03:57","slug":"tech-today-flipping-nasa-tech-and-sticking-the-landing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/tech-today-flipping-nasa-tech-and-sticking-the-landing\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Today:\u00a0Flipping NASA Tech\u00a0and Sticking\u00a0the\u00a0Landing\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tech Today:\u00a0Flipping NASA Tech\u00a0and Sticking\u00a0the\u00a0Landing\u00a0<\/h2>\n

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2 min read<\/p>\n

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Akeem<\/a><\/figure>
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Akeem Shannon showcasing Flipstik attached to a smartphone. The product\u2019s design was improved by looking at NASA research to inform its gecko-inspired method of adhering to surfaces<\/div>\n
Credit: Flipstik Inc.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When it comes to innovative technologies, inventors often find inspiration in the most unexpected places. A former salesman, Akeem Shannon, was inspired by his uncle, who worked as an engineer at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to research the agency\u2019s published technologies. He came across a sticky NASA invention that would help him launch his breakout product.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In the early 2010s, a team of roboticists at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California were exploring methods to enhance robots\u2019 gripping capabilities. They came across the Van Der Waals force \u2013 a weak electrostatic bond that forms at the molecular level when points on two surfaces make contact. This is the same force that geckos use to climb along walls.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure>
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Much like a gecko\u2019s foot, this apparatus developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory uses tiny fibers to grip objects and hold them tight. This work later inspired and informed the development of Flipstik.<\/div>\n
Credit: NASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The microscopic hairs on gecko toe pads are called setae, which gives the technology the nickname of \u201csynthetic setae.\u201d While Shannon couldn\u2019t use this NASA technology to hang a TV on a wall, he saw a way to mount a much smaller screen \u2013 a cellphone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

A synthetic setae attachment on a cellphone case could stick to most surfaces, such as mirrors or the back of airplane seats. With a product design in hand, Shannon founded St. Louis-based Flipstik Inc. in 2018. Shannon wanted to make a reliable product that could be used multiple times in various situations. He said the published NASA research, which describes methods of molding and casting the tiny hairs to be more durable, was indispensable to making his product portable and reusable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Flipstik has made an impact on the mobile device industry. In addition to people using it to mount their phones to watch videos, it has become popular among content creators to capture camera angles. Flipstik also allows deaf users to keep their hands free, enabling them to make video calls in sign language. From geckos to NASA research, Shannon\u2019s innovation is a reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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