Biomimetic threading of gel fibers

Spiders can create silk fibers with exceptional properties by meticulously regulating the threading process in terms of both force and velocity through their legs and spinnerets. Despite advancements in artificial fiber manufacturing, these fibers often fall short in terms of toughness compared to natural silk, largely because current production methods cannot replicate the complex regulation techniques of spiders. To address this, we have developed robotic instruments and methods for threading and in-situ testing of gel fibers. Utilizing advanced control algorithms and AI, we thread fibers through a mobile precision gel dispenser and highly sensitive force sensor, mimicking a spider's process. The results indicate that the fibers pulled using our method exhibit high tensile strength when compared to fibers produced by similar extrusion-based methods, presenting a promising avenue for advancements in artificial fiber technology.