Here is a look at the non-profit group SRI International's wall-climbing robot that will be unveiled at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Pasadena, Calif. The bot can scramble up all common building materials as it uses electro-adhesion to cling to the wall, generating electrostatic charges between the wall substrate and itself to keep from falling. "The principle of operation is similar to electrostatic chucks used to hold silicon wafers, or other specialized grippers for robotic handling of materials," says senior researcher Harsha Prahlad "The technology uses a very small amount of power ... and shows the ability to repeatedly clamp to wall substrates that are heavily covered in dust or other debris."

Applications to this yet un-named robot could include military and law enforcement surveillance sensors, inspection droids, building maintenance robots and toys.

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