Patent ID: 8236129

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a climbing device including at least one movable arm or leg and an attachment pad attached thereto comprising a thermo-reversible dry adhesive comprising a shape memory polymer layer, and a dry adhesive layer over the shape memory polymer layer, a means for heating and cooling the thermo-reversible dry adhesive, and a means for applying pressure to the thermo-reversible dry adhesive comprising a spring; wherein shape recovery of the shape memory polymer layer is not constrained by the device; heating the thermo-reversible dry adhesive so that the shape memory polymer is at a temperature above its glass transition temperature, and placing the attachment pad on a wall and applying pressure to the thermo-reversible dry adhesive through the spring, and cooling the thermo-reversible dry adhesive so that the attachment pad is attached to the wall; and detaching the pad from the wall comprising heating the thermo-reversible dry adhesive layer and applying a relatively small pull-off or peel-off force to remove the pad from the wall.