Snake robots have many applications. The originators of such robots, as the name suggests, were snakes. Thanks to their flexibility and specific design, these devices can get into inaccessible places without losing accuracy in operation. It is a significant feature that allows it to be used, among other things, in operations (even in the case of throat cancer) as well as in the repair of pipes at the bottom of the ocean and many others.
Surgeries
As I mentioned before thanks to flexibility and at the same time accuracy in operation snake robots are the future of tools used for surgeries. According to the (bbc.com) robot snake called Cobra which was previously used for engineering jets and nuclear plants now is tested if it be able to do complex operations, including the surgery of throat cancer. University of Nottingham with Rolls-Royce joined forces to create this robot. The robot will probably be ready within 10 years.
Repairing pipes at the bottom of the ocean
On the market we have new drone. According to the (interestingengineering.com) new snake robot is called Eelume. It is drone capable of underwater navigation using cameras and sensors. Referring to (cnn.com) ,,It can be kept at a docking station at depths up to 500 meters (547 yards) for six months, without being brought back to the surface. The self-propelling robot can travel up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) before needing to return to its station to recharge. It can also swap out parts for different tasks, including tools to operate subsea valves, and cleaning brushes to remove marine growth and sediments.”[1]. Thanks to a diverse collection of equipment It can do a number of jobs, such as operating on subsea valves and removing marine vegetation and sediments. Quite impressive, isn’t it?
In summary, new technologies allows us to do unbelibevle things. By taking inspiration from nature we are able to create very useful robots. Snake robots are able to form in huge variety of shapes which means that those robots have enormous potential. Please let me know what do you thin about it in the comments ?
References:
https://interestingengineering.com/health/snake-like-robots-surgery-save-lives
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-64333828
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/snake-robot-fixes-pipelines-on-the-ocean-floor
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/20/tech/eelume-undersea-snake-robot-spc-intl/index.html
[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/20/tech/eelume-undersea-snake-robot-spc-intl/index.html
I think that snake robots are a very interesting and new idea in the field of robotics. Because they are flexible and can get into tight spaces, they are great for a wide range of tasks, such as surgery and maintaining underwater infrastructure. Both the Cobra robot and the Eelume drone are great examples of what snake robots can do. They show that these devices could be used in many different fields and for many different tasks. I can’t wait to see what these snake robots and others like them will be used for in the future.
This is one of the most surprising ideas for a robot I’ve ever heard but I think it’s brilliant. As stated its flexibility and shape could have many applications in real life like surgeries or small places unavailable for a human. I’m really looking forward to seeing them brought into action.
Definitely unique, however could prove to be extremely useful in the upcoming future, especially when you consider the fact that it could be used in a variety of industries.