Research by Dr. Stanislav Gorb of the Evolutionary Biomaterials Group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung in Stuttgart is doing analysis of biological surfaces that enhance or reduce frictional or adhesive forces such as those used by insects to walk on ceilings. These surfaces are composed of highly-specialized materials and have surface structures optimised for a particular function. This includes anti-adhesion forces produced by some plants to hamper an insect's ability to walk on them. The applications for robotics are obvious but likely limited to small machines where the effects are large enough to be useful.