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The attached link describes how polymers were used to imitate a gecko's clinging ability. It cautioned against trying to climb a building by making a pair of gloves out of them though because the pads would wear out after a few steps, so to speak. We don't need gloves to get out of skyscapers during
a fire though, we need mats with gecko-like fibers on both sides. During a fire the mats would roll all the way down from their rooftop cases to the ground, their undersides forming a tight bond with the walls of the skyscraper as they went. As soon as they were completely unrolled people trying to get out of the building could open the windows, release a narrow catwalk built into each windows casement (designed as either a fold-out or slide-out), walk over to the mat, and then crawl down it. Since there would be plenty of surface area available they could make sure each body part was securely attached to it before moving an arm or leg. Fire drills would have to be held ahead of time to get people used to these fire escapes. Maybe they could practice by climbing up the building.
Gecko hairs
http://physicsweb.o...ticles/news/7/6/4/1
Background information [longshot9999, Dec 02 2004]
[link]
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//make sure each body part was securely attached to it// no thanks |
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I just got the mental picture of smoke bellowing out of the 13th story of a high-rise building, with business people and over-dressed professionals scampering down the sides of the sky scraper like ants evacuating an ant hill. [+] |
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For some reason I thought this was going to have something to do with King François the First--his emblem was the salamander because legend had it that it goes through the fire unscathed and...ah, I'm just babbling. Anyway, I like the idea. [+] |
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Well, it IS self-cleaning. |
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//the pads would wear out after a few steps, so to speak// But having a ten story building full of people crawl down won't wear the mat out? |
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Whats the problem with THAT, [Brau]? |
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//But having a ten story building full of people crawl down won't wear the mat out?// |
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Individual spots would wear out, but that just means you'd have to make sure your hand/arm/knee/foot was on an unworn-out spot before making your next move. The mats would be wide and numerous too, decreasing the chances of getting stuck somewhere with no safe spot to stick onto below you. |
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Brau - Jumping to their deaths was the only option for a lot of people on 911. This would have given them at least one more option (not a great one of course, but at least an option nevertheless). As for the firemen standing helplessly at the top of their ladders - they could always climb up on the mats and help the fearstruck down. |
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