Snakebot leaps 18-inch curbs in a single bound

OmniTread is a serpentine robot developed by a University of Michigan team for intended usage in "industrial inspection and surveillance" (workers: be on the lookout for snake spies!). It's tackled some impressive mobility feats such as traversing rough terrain, climbing pipes and stairs, spanning wide gaps, and climbing an 18-inch curb that's over twice its own height. It can move log-style by rolling, or inchworm-style by lifting its head or tail, as its specially-designed treads propel it forward. Divided into five box-shaped segments, the robot snake has joints containing bellows that expand or contract to allow turning and lifting. Peep the video below of the robotic worm doing its snake-like thang.

Video: Snakebot [WMV]

[gorkon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Very cool. You can see if the add more links to the snake, it would be able to traverse bigger trenches and bigger obstacles.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Cool beans

[Joey Geraci @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

That thing is pretty cool. I don't know how effective it can be at surveillance if it is tethered to it's power source (I assume) like that; they'll have to figure out how to integrate a pretty hefty battery in there, but it could be very promising.