Unlike the gecko and other artificial imitators that rely on structures with complex shapes, the Penn team's gripper uses a simpler, two-material structure that is easier to mass produce. At their current millimeter-scale size, the grippers can be used for moving smooth, fragile components, like silicon wafers or glass sheets. Scaled down, they could be used in arrays to grip to a range of rough and smooth surfaces, making them useful for climbing robots and other larger-scale applications.