These Robo-Snakes Climbing Ladders are the Stuff of Nightmares
"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" Indiana Jones probably wouldn't be a fan of this snake-like robot capable of climbing stairs. But this robotic snake from a team of Japanese researchers could be more far more functional than terrifying.
This simple robot snake is a long articulated tube that researchers hope can used in a variety of applications. The snake resulted from a joint project between Kyoto University and the University of Electro-Communications in Japan.
As the researchers explained in the video, the snake was designed by connecting simple shapes in a smooth exterior package. This smooth package allows the snake to slither easily up a ladder. The teams also developed a new actuation system to easily twist the body and allow it to securely wrap the snake around each rung.
While this snake isn't the fastest by any means, its articulated body is enough to climb obstacles any real snake would handle. The researchers think the snake could be the perfect tool for navigating piles of rubble or infrastructure not safe for humans.
Via: IEEE Spectrum