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Thursday, 17 May, 2001, 10:01 GMT 11:01 UK
Suck it and climb
![]() A stuntman climbed a 20-metre glass wall
Anyone who has watched a gecko walk up a pane of glass cannot fail to be impressed by the little creature's amazing sticky feet. And here is the human equivalent - a suction pad device that allows its wearer to clamber up the side of a building.
Winkler says his "Gekkomat" is an advance on previous suction devices because it will work on any type of surface - even those made from porous materials like plaster and concrete. The system was put through its paces by a stuntman for the BBC Science programme Tomorrow's World. He managed to walk up a 20-metre (65-foot) glass wall - though nothing like as fast as a gecko, it has to be said.
There is a line of green and red LEDs (light emitting diodes) on the back of the cups, which tells the "Gekkonaut" when valves have created a strong enough vacuum to safely support another step up the wall. The Tomorrow's World stuntmen found the system to work very well. The one drawback would seem to be the weight; all the gear adds up to a hefty 30 kilograms (66 lbs). Tomorrow's World is broadcast on BBC One on Wednesdays at 1930 BST
![]() Robot window cleaners are used on skyscrapers
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