Bio-Inspired Suction Disc Replicates Lamprey Teeth and Vacuum Grip for Seamless Amphibious Robotic Operations

Peking University develops a bionic suction disc using Shape Memory Polymers to mimic lamprey adhesion, enabling robots to lift 850x their weight in any environment.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 12:36 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Beijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd

Overcoming the Limits of Traditional Suction Technology

In the challenging environments of deep-sea exploration and amphibious rescue, traditional attachment mechanisms often fail. Standard suction cups struggle to maintain a vacuum seal on porous surfaces or are easily dislodged by fluid washing underwater. To break through these physical constraints, a research team led by Professor Junzhi Yu at Peking University looked to the lamprey, an ancient fish that has perfected the art of attachment. By replicating the lamprey’s combination of a soft sealing lip and interlocking "teeth," the team has created a unified mechanism capable of adhering to almost any surface morphology across different media.

The Science of Hybrid Adhesion and Shape Memory Polymers

The robotic disc's core innovation lies in its use of a Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) core integrated with a flexible silicone lip. The adhesion process is an elegant synergy of heat and pressure. When a built-in heater warms the SMP above 33 °C, the material becomes rubbery and soft. As a vacuum is applied, the softened polymer is sucked into the microscopic crevices of the target surface, essentially creating a perfect mold of the texture. Once the heat is deactivated, the SMP hardens into a rigid state, physically interlocking with the surface like a key in a lock.

Decoupling Grip Strength from Vacuum Maintenance

A primary weakness of traditional suction is the need for a constant, perfect vacuum. If air or water leaks into the cup, the grip fails instantly. However, the lamprey-inspired hybrid mechanism decouples adhesion strength from continuous vacuum maintenance. Because the hardened SMP is physically wedged into the surface texture, the disc maintains a secure grip even if the vacuum system fails or slight leakage occurs. In laboratory settings, this increased the effective adhesion time in the air by nearly 300% and underwater retention time by a staggering 540%.