by Jeff Donlan
Stanford researchers have developed a soft robot that moves like a serpent, which could prove useful in search and rescue operations or medical applications.The tube-like robot navigates by folding itself inside out and can grow across long distances without moving its whole body. Air pressure is used to extend it to reach places a human can’t and its attached camera offers medics and rescue teams a close-up view. The soft structure also makes it safe to interact with humans.After developing the prototype, researchers showcased its potential uses by sending the snake robot through a variety of obstacle courses. Robo-snake was able to squeeze past everything put in its way.The snake is just one new type of robot created by mechanical engineers at Stanford University, detailed in a June 19 Science Robotics paper “A soft robot that navigates its environment through growth.” Inspired by natural organisms that cover distance by growing – such as vines, fungi and nerve cells – the researchers have made a proof of concept of their soft, growing robot and continue to run it through challenging tests.
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