A Modular Snake Robot

StCredZero writes "Researchers at CMU are working on a Modular Snake Robot. A video from this site is up on YouTube. In addition to being able to traverse a wide variety of terrain, the robot can also climb poles, the inside of pipes and conduits, small grooves in walls, and probably more. It can also swim. Many robots can do one of those tasks. This one can do them all. That's quite an accomplishment. This has tremendous potential for the maintenance of fiber optic networks, pipelines, and plumbing in large buildings; and also as a spy device. (I wonder how loud it is?)"

a little weird

[OrochimaruVoldemort (1248060)]

but useful. the telcos would sure like one of those. the us govt. would also see an interest

Re:

[Brian Gordon (987471)]

Uh they're far from actually making delicate repairs on fiber.. but I was very wowed by it snaking around on that horizonal pole. That must be some crazy programming for it be able to keep balance and not fall off.

Hollwood calls

[elrous0 (869638)]

Does anyone else smell a "Snakes on a Plane" sequel?

Re:

[PlatyPaul (690601)]

Sadly, it's been done [imdb.com]....

Oblig

[styryx (952942)]

I, for one....snake robots....etc....overlords.

Oblig chain

[BlackCobra43 (596714)]

but those these robotic snake overlords run Linux?

Re:

[An ominous Cow art (320322)]

This would be known as a "Jormungand Cluster".

Unfortunately

[d3ac0n (715594)]

They are still all Tethered units, which limits their functionality. Of course, they are still in the development stage, so a tethered unit is to be expected.

It will be interesting to see if they can progress beyond tethered to wireless, and finally to fully autonomous units. I would imagine that they will need to get a bit bigger to accommodate the extra electronics needed.

Still, a very cool and potentially VERY useful technology.

Evangelion

[StCredZero (169093)]

The prototype Evangelion [google.com] were tethered, but they did a whole lot!

Great Surveillance Possibilities

[Russell2566 (1205416)]

I bet this would be an amazing tool for Police, Swat and the likes. I bet our boys over seas could find some uses for it as well to sneak into places undetected.

Too bad it's probably really loud on hard surfaces and requires a massive cable bundle...

planetary exploration?

[CarpetShark (865376)]

From the description of what it can do, it sounds like the answer to a lot of NASA's terrain negotiation problems. Anyone have an idea if this (perhaps on a larger scale) would suit them?

Impressive

[Degreeless (1250850)]

It is an impressive feat though there ae issues of range, woth it being tethered it it's control/power, and also its application for maintenance may be limited to identifying faults depending upon whether suitable tools could be made withoput hampering the movement of the snake.

Issues aside it also looks very cool, if a little creepy when it's climbing uyp that guy's leg.

Old news

[garett_spencley (193892)]

I ordered one of these for my wife as a gift a little while ago. She gave me the weirdest "freaked out" look.

Yeah kind of like your expression right now ...

Re:Old news

[garett_spencley (193892)]

Only on /. can a racy joke about robotic development and what women do alone in their bedrooms get modded "Interesting".

Robot Snakes

[verbalcontract (909922)]

In addition to being able to traverse a wide variety of terrain, the robot can also climb poles, the inside of pipes and conduits, small grooves in walls, and probably more. It can also swim.

Oh, so real snakes aren't scary enough? I have to worry about robot snakes too?

look up "camel spiders"

[lthown (737539)]

if you are freaked out by snakes, check them out http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/camelspider.asp [snopes.com]

but will it blend?

[lthown (737539)]

yeah, so it can climb and swim and stuff, but it apparently can't survive a good slashdotting.

Old hat

[Lars Clausen (1208)]

The ability to climb poles (and legs) is cute, but apart from that, Xerox PARC had a modular robot in 2000 that could not only be a snake, but could reconfigure itself into a ball or a spider to go faster or to traverse difficult terrain. It was extremely nifty, but like so much else from Xerox PARC, they never capitalized much on it.

-Lars

I think I saw that one

[blueZ3 (744446)]

When the Decepticons were near it would transform into a giant robot! Who knew that PARC was responsible for the autobots?

Re:Old hat

[PlatyPaul (690601)]

You're referring to Polybot [parc.com], which has Generation I [parc.com] listed at 1997. Polybot is a bit more flexible (har har) due to the fact that each module is entirely self-sufficient (aside from power, which they can channel from module to module as needed), although I haven't seen a demo of it handling water....

"Already done" notwithstanding, it's nice to see a robot succeed so well in such varied scenarios.

Other YouTube videos

[honestmonkey (819408)]

If you check the video out, it looks cool. Youtube also points out other robot snake videos. It looks like the Japanese already have several types of things like this, they are wireless and apparently have on-board batteries, and seem to do most if not all of what this one does. So, is this really a big advance or just a bad copy-cat of a Japanese version?

Tin Foil Hats

[fuzzlost (871011)]

Why does every summary involving robots contain a line in the summary about possible spy usage?

It's like the editors are wearing my tinfoil hat for me...

Missing option ...

[BESTouff (531293)]

Nice but ... can it fly ?

Better Metal Snake

[MaufTarkie (6625)]

Someone has been listening to Dethklok, I think. We're all doomed!

Re:

[ichthyoboy (1167379)]

Goatse man, is that you?