How Could Engineered Gloves Inspired by Octopus Tentacles Help Humans?

The Octa-glove pairs suction cups with LIDAR sensors and allows glove-wearers to pick up and release objects without grasping.

By Jason P. Dinh
Jul 13, 2022 9:15 PMJun 30, 2023 2:48 PM
Octopus suckers
(Credit: Henner Damke/Shutterstock)

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If you’ve ever held a fish, you know that people are terrible at grabbing wet, slippery surfaces. In fact, some scientists think that our fingers get pruney just to manipulate objects underwater.

In a new study, researchers invented a glove that mimics octopus suckers to improve our grip. The device’s suction activates automatically and can pick up objects of all shapes and sizes. It could help rescue divers grab victims, archaeologists retrieve artifacts and engineers improve underwater construction.

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