Misunderstood Spider is a Little Less Misunderstood

May 8, 2018 11:07 AM

Researchers at The University of Manchester have trained a spider (named Kim) to jump on command in order to better understand the extraordinary jumping capabilities of these spiders. Some of these results will help engineers design spider-like robots. The work has been published in the Journal Nature Scientific Reports.

Bonus discussion of how spiders' personalities determine how they hunt.

Misunderstood spiders rejoice.

posted by blurker (31 comments total)

Some of these results will help engineers design spider-like robots

YES forget roombas, I want a robot spider that jumps out and scares the shit out of people.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:43 AM on May 8, 2018 [16 favorites]

Salticidae! We found a Phidippus audax in the house the other day, I captured it and let it go outside. Interesting looking little gal.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:43 AM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]

This is why the web was invented
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:01 PM on May 8, 2018 [9 favorites]

This it's the best thing. I thought something else was the best thing but I was wrong, out was this.

Memail me if you'd like a pdf of the article - I think it is paywalled?
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 12:03 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh, it's free,nm.
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 12:04 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

"Sure sure, I've only focused on training spiders for jumping study purposes. No other motives at all!"
posted by FatherDagon at 12:15 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Robotic jumping spiders? Probably GIANT jumping spiders.

This will not end well.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:30 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is why the web was invented

Suddenly I wonder if this browser can be configured to send a "X-Not-A-Fly" header.
posted by sfenders at 1:11 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Researchers at The University of Manchester have trained a spider (named Kim) to jump on command in order to better understand the extraordinary jumping capabilities of these spiders build an army of spiders to take revenge on the FOOLS who MOCKED them! NOW ALL SHALL PAY!!

FTFY
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:15 PM on May 8, 2018 [4 favorites]

Motat, Phidippus audax are beautiful! I found two of them on my aloe vera this week, though I didn't get a very good picture.

Apparently they have only recently shown up in San Jose.
posted by tavella at 1:31 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

Phidippus audax are beautiful!

Oh, thanks for teaching me their name! I had a nice conversation with one who was hanging out on my rose bush this weekend. She had a beautiful orange spot on her back.

Regarding TFA, maybe I'm just missing it, but I can't find an explanation of how they went about training a spider to jump. How? How do you train a spider?? (Asking for a friend.)
posted by mudpuppie at 1:41 PM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]

From glancing over the full paper, it looks like they did not train the spider to jump on command (that would be a monumental work on its own). Out of the 4 spiders they started with only one was interested in jumping at all, and from that one spider they got 15 jumps total. It's not clear if this spider is the one sacrificed to the X-ray gods.
posted by serif at 1:49 PM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]

Some of these results will help engineers design spider-like robots

Wait... is this really something we want to help/encourage engineers to do?
posted by cirhosis at 2:06 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh shit, they're intelligent? I'm not sure if that information makes them more or less creepy.
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 2:24 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

From glancing over the full paper, it looks like they did not train the spider to jump on command

Well then, I say "train" is totally the wrong word and neither scientists nor headline writers should be allowed to use it, and also my plans for this evening have just fallen through.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:36 PM on May 8, 2018 [5 favorites]

Yes! I too would like my very own tachikoma.
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 2:43 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

I have never been prouder of my alma mater. I hope Kim is the guest of honour at the next alumni event.
posted by parm at 2:48 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

Wait... is this really something we want to help/encourage engineers to do?

Of course it is! Just think of the potential applications in industry, shipping, space exploration and... war...

Oh. Damn.
posted by dazed_one at 4:25 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

Nonsense! Never underestimate the peacetime application for technology developed for war. Just think how awesome the eight-legged autonomous vacuum robots will be after we kill a few million people to work the kinks out.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 4:37 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

I was disappointed to see that Kim was not thanked in the "acknowledgments" portion of the paper. Kim was the *only* spider in the study who consented to perform the test jumps; her assistance was plainly invaluable. She is a Very Good Spider.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 4:56 PM on May 8, 2018 [9 favorites]

I'm bummed that there's no video of them training the spider.
posted by sarcasticah at 5:10 PM on May 8, 2018

can't let trade secrets like that get out into the wild
posted by poffin boffin at 5:22 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

I was just reading this extraordinary WaPo obituary for the world's oldest known spider. It's sweet and strangely moving. RIP, Spider 16.

(Arachnophobe warning: article leads with picture of spider. Other photos are non-spidery)
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:37 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

I was just reading this extraordinary WaPo obituary for the world's oldest known spider.

Previously
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:45 PM on May 8, 2018

I just want to say that this discussion is EXACTLY the reason why I was able to get over my Ridiculous Fear of Posting (TM) to put this put on the Blue. Thank you all.
posted by blurker at 5:46 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

“average spider jumps 3 times a year" factoid actualy (sic) just statistical error. average spider jumps 0 times per year. Spiders Kim, who lives in lab & jumps over 10,000 times each day, is an outlier adn should not have been counted
posted by AFABulous at 8:52 PM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]

I loved this video! I am not a big spider fan, but I find jumping spiders adorable and this project was fascinating. Thanks, blurker!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:17 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]

YES forget roombas, I want a robot spider that jumps out and scares the shit out of people.

I think they should have called it Cato.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 2:03 AM on May 9, 2018

Researchers at The University of Manchester have trained a spider (named Kim) to jump on command in order to better understand the extraordinary jumping capabilities of these spiders.

RESULTS

DAY 1: Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 2: One (1) leg removed. Seven (7) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 3: One (1) leg removed. Six (6) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 4: One (1) leg removed. Five (5) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 5: One (1) leg removed. Four (4) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 6: One (1) leg removed. Three (3) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 7: One (1) leg removed. Two (2) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 8: One (1) leg removed. One (1) legs remaining. Spider jumps when given the command.

DAY 9: One (1) leg removed. Zero (0) legs remaining. Spider does not jump when given the command.

DAY 10: Zero (0) legs remaining. Spider still does not jump when given the command.

CONCLUSIONS

Our evidence strongly suggests that removal of all the spider's legs causes the spider to go deaf.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 7:13 AM on May 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Sounds like Tachikoma prep work to me.
posted by djrock3k at 2:58 PM on May 9, 2018

mudpuppies, I asked on a zookeeper page to find out how the spiders were trained. They brought them to the ‘jumping off’ point to the destination by hand a number of times. The spiders got the idea. Jumping spiders and wolf spiders are the smartest arachnids!
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 3:43 PM on May 9, 2018