3 ms·
What's interesting is that their replacement - essentially friction pads, IS expected to last the remainder of their life (and for other similar insects). I wou
by dsuth 13y ago
What's interesting is that their replacement - essentially friction pads, IS expected to last the remainder of their life (and for other similar insects). I would have expected gears to last longer than something relying on friction, especially at those levels of energy.
- shabble 13y agoFriction pads would probably have much more predictable wear (potentially in excess of the expected lifespan of the critter), whereas the discrete, stress-concentrating nature of gears would put them at higher risk of a single weak spot leading to cascading failure (then again, they'll still technically last almost a lifetime :)).
- estebank 13y agoI guess that the difference is the failure mode for friction pads is more gracious than for gears, making survival more likely.